A 
PLAN 

FOR    THE    CONDUCT 

0  F 

jfemale  education, 

1  N 

BOARDING   SCHOOLS,    PRIVATE   FAMILIES,    AND 
PUBLIC    SEMINARIES. 

..<..<,.<«£*>..>..>.. 

By  Erafmus  Daw:  in,  M.  D.  F.  R.  s. 
Author  of  Zoonomia,  and  of  the  Botanic  Garden. 

••<•<••<«$»>•  >•>•• 

TO   WHICH   ARE   ADDED, 

RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE, 

IN  A  SERIES  OF  LETTERS 

FROM  A  MOTHER  TO  HER  DAUGHTERS. 


Embellished  with  an  elegant  Frontispiece. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

PRINTED    BY    JOHN    ORMROD, 

N°.  41,  Chesnut-street. 

1798. 


DEDICATION. 


JL  O  the  parents  and  guardians, 
who  are  felicitous  about  the  education 
of  their  female  wards,  and  daughters, 
— to  the  governefles  of  fchools  inftitu- 
ted  for  female  tuition, — to  the  teachers 
of  young  ladies  in  private  families, 
and  public  feminaries, — this  fmall  work 
is  with  all  due  refpeft  prefented 

BY  THE  AUTHOR. 


l^ 


CONTENTS. 


Seffion 

I.  THE  FEMALE  CHARACTER. 

II.  MUSIC  AND  DANCING. 

III.  READING. 

IV.  WRITING. 

V.  GRAMMAR. 

VI.  LANGUAGES.     PHYSIOGNOMY. 

VII.  ARITHMETIC.     CARD-PLAYING. 

VIII.  GEOGRAPHY. 

IX.  HISTORY. 

X.  NATURAL  HISTORY. 

XI.  RUDIMENTS  OF.  TASTE.     BEAUTY. 
GRACE. 

A  2: 


Contents. 
"<  •<•%,>->•' 

XII.  DRAWING  AND  EMBROIDERY. 
PERSPECTIVE. 

XIII.  HEATHEN  MYTHOLOGY. 

XIV.  POLITE  LITERATURE.     NOVELS. 

XV.  ARTS  AND  SCIENCES. 

XVI.  MORALS. 

XVII.  COMPASSION. 

XVIII.  VERACITY. 

XIX.  PRUDENCE.     JUSTICE.     CHASTITY. 

XX.  FORTITUDE.     BASHFULNESS. 

XXI.  TEMPERANCE. 

XXII.  RELIGION. 

XXIII.  ADDRESS. 

XXIV.  CONVERSATION. 

XXV.  EXERCISE,     DUMB  BELLS. 

XXVI.  AIR.    BED-ROOMS.   FIRE-GRATES. 

XXVII.  CARE  OF  THE  SHAPE. 
COLD  BATH. 


Contents. 
••<-t «*»>•>•• 

XXVIII.  DRESS.     EAR-RINGS.    POWDER. 

XXIX.  AMUSEMENTS      CHESS. 

XXX.  PUNISHMENTS.     REWARDS. 
MOTIVES. 

XXXI.  LI3PING. 

• 

XXXII.  STAMMERING. 

XXXIII.  SQUINTING. 

XXXIV.  INVOLUNTARY  MOTIONS. 

XXXV.  SWELLED  FINGERS,  AND  KIBED 
HEELS. 

XXXVI.  BEDS.     RHEUMATISM. 

XXXVII.  DIET.     NEW  MILK. 

XXXVIII.  ECONOMY. 

XXXIX.  SCHOOL-EDUCATION,  USES  OF. 
XL.  CATALOGUE  OF  BOOKS. 


APOLOGY  FOR  THE  WORK. 


JL  HE  following  treatife  was  written 
at  the  defire  of  Mifs  S.  and  Mifs  M.  Par 
ker  ;  who  were  themfelves  educated  for 
the  purpofe  of  educating  others  ;  and  on 
that  account  were  originally  placed  in  dif 
ferent  feminaries  for  female  tuition  ;  and 
afterwards  engaged  themfelves  for  a  time 
as  teachers  in  other  fchools,  and  in  private 
families;  the  better  to  qualify  themfelves 
for  the  arduous  taflc  of  conducting  a  board 
ing  fchool  for  the  education  of  young 
ladies. 


APOLOGY    FOR    THE    WORK. 
..<..<«**>..>.. 

About  four  years  ago  a  houfe  was  offer 
ed  for  fale  at  Afhborne  in  Derbyftiire,  at 
the  very  extremity  of  the  town,  in  a  moft 
pleafant  and  healthy  fituation,  on  a  dry 
fandy  foil,  with  excellent  water,  well  fliel- 
tered  from  the  north-ealt,  and  command 
ing  an  extenfive  profpedl  of  Sir  Brooke 
Boothby's  park,  and  its  beautiful  environs. 

A  fpacious  walled  garden  adjoins  the 
houfe,  at  the  bottom  of  which  is  a  ftream 
of  water,  which  may  fometime  be  convert 
ed  into  a  river-bath* 

Mifs  PARKERS  procured  this  eligible 
fituation^  and  had  the  houfe  well  fitted  up 
for  the  purpofes  of  a  boarding  fchool.  It 
confifts  of  an  ample  fchool-room,  and  an 
ample  dining-room,  and  four  fmaller  par- 


APOLOGY    FOR    THE    WORK. 

'•<••<*•>•>•• 

lours,  on  the  principal  floor ;  with  two 
ftair-cafes,  one  of  which  is  of  ftone.  The 
whole  is  airy  and  well  lighted;  and  now 
contains  about  thirty  pupils  without  being 
crowded. 

They  next  had  the  good  fortune  to  en 
gage  very  excellent  teachers  in  dancing, 
mufic,  and  drawing,  from  Nottingham, 
Derby,  See.  with  a  polite  emigrant  as  French 
matter  ;  and  laftly  applied  to  me  for  any 
ideas,  I  could  furnifh  them  with,  on  the 

fubjed  of  female  education.       And  now, 

• 
as  their  eftabliftiment  has  fucceeded   to 

their  utrnoft  wifh,  have  exprefled  a  defire, 
that  I  would  give  to  the  public,  what  I 
wrote  originally  for  their  private  infpec- 
tion. 


APOLOGY    FOR    THE    WORK. 

..<..<4»  >..>.. 

I  have  only  to  add,  that  a  copy  of  the 
manufcript  has  been  feen  by  many  of  the 
ingenious  of  both  fexes,and  much  improv 
ed  by  their  obfervations ;  to  whcm  I  here 
beg  leave  to  return  my  moft  grateful  ac 
knowledgments. 


A    P  L  A  N 

FOR    THE    CONDUCT    OF 

FEMALE    EDUCATION. 


SECTION  I. 

THE    FEMALE    CHARACTER. 

THE  PARENTS  and  guardians  of 
young  ladies  of  the  laft  half  century  were 
lefs  folicitous  about  procuring  for  them  fo 
extenfive  an  education,  as  modern  refine 
ment  requires.     Hence   it  happens,    that 
female  education  has  not  yet  been  reduced 
to  a  perfe<5l  fyftem  ;  but  is  frequently  di- 
ie<5ted  by  thofe,   who  have  not  themfelves 
had  a  good  education,  or  who  have  not  flu- 
died  the  fubjedl  with  fufficient  attention. 
And  tho'  many  ingenious  remarks  are  to  be 
B 


10  THE    FEMALE    CHARACTER. 

found  in  the  works  of  Locke,  RoufTeau, 
Genlis,  and  other  writers  ftill  more  mo 
dern  ;  yet  few  of  them  are  exactly  appli 
cable  to  the  management  of  boarding 
fchools ;  the  improvement  of  which  is  the 
intent  of  the  prefent  treatife. 

The  advantages  of  a  good  education 
confift  in  uniting  health  and  agility  of  bo 
dy  with  cheerfulnefs  and  activity  of  mind  ; 
in  fuperadding  graceful  movements  to  the 
former,  and  agreeable  taftes  to  the  latter  ; 
and  in  the  acquirement  of  the  rudiments  of 
fuch  arts  and  fciences,  as  may  amufe  our- 
felves,  or  gain  us  the  efteem  of  others  ; 
with  a  ftri<5i  attention  to  the  culture  of  mo 
rality  and  religion. 

The  female  charader  (hould  pofiefs  the 
mild  and  retiring  virtues  rather  than  the 
bold  and  dazzling  ones  ;  great  eminence  in 
almofl  any  thing  is  fometimes  injurious  to 
a  young  lady  ;  whofe  temper  and  difpofi- 
tion  {hould  appear  to  be  pliant  rather  than 


THE   FEMALE   CHARACTER.  II 

robuft ;  to  be  ready  to  take  impreffions  ra 
ther  than  to  be  decidedly  marked  ;  as  great 
apparent  ftrength  of  character,  however 
excellent,  is  liable  to  alarm  both  her  own 
and  the  other  fex  ;  and  to  create  admira 
tion  rather  than  affection. 

There  are  however  fituations  in  tingle 
life ;  in  which,  after  the  completion  of 
their  fchool-education,  ladies  may  culti 
vate  to  any  extent  the  fine  arts  or  the  fci- 
ences  for  their  amufement  or  inftru<5tion. 
And  there  are  fituations  in  a  married 
ftate  ;  which  may  call  forth  all  the  energies 
of  the  mind  in  the  care,  education,  or  pro- 
vifion,  for  a  family .;  which  the  inadivity, 
folly,  or  death  of  a  hufbandmay  render  ne- 
ceflary.  Hence  if  to  foftnefs  of  manners, 
complacency  of  countenance,  gentle  un 
hurried  motion,  with  a  voice  clear  and 
yet  tender,  the  charms  which  enchant  all 
hearts!  can  be  fuperadded  internal ftrength 
and  adivity  of  mind,  capable  to  tranfad 
the  bufinefs  or  combat  the  evils  of  life ; 


1*2  THE  FEMALE  CHARACTER. 

with  a  due  fenfe  of  moral  and  religious 
obligation;  all  is  obtained, which  education 
can  fupply  ;  the  female  chara<5ler  becomes 
complete,  excites  our  love,  and  commands 
our  admiration. 

Education  fhould  draw  the  outline, 
and  teach  the  ufe  of  the  pencil ;  but  the 
exertions  of  the  individual  muft  afterwards 
introduce  the  various  gradations  of  {hade 
and  colour,  murt  illuminate  the  landfcape, 
and  fill  it  with  the  beautiful  figures  of  the 
Graces  and  the  Virtues. 


SECTION  II. 

MUSIC    AND    DANCING 

generally  taught  by  mafters, 
who  profefs  thofe  arts;  concerning  which 
we  (hall  only  obferve,  that  they  are  fre 
quently  believed  to  be  of  too  great  impor  - 
tance  in  female  education  ;  and  on  that  ac 
count  that  too  much  time  is  expended  on 
their  acquirement.  It  is  perhaps  more 
defirable,  that  young  ladies  fhould  play, 
fingr  and  dance,  only  fo  well  as  to  amufe 
themfelves  and  their  friends,  than  to  prac- 
tife  thofe  arts  in  fo  eminent  a  degree  as  to 
aftonifh  the  public  ;  becaufe  a  great  appa 
rent  attention  to  trivial  accompliflunents 
is  liable  to  give  a  fufpicion,  that  more  va 
luable  acquifitions  have  been  neglected. 
And,  as  they  confift  in  an  exhibition  of 
the  perfon,  they  are  liable  to  be  attended 
with  vanity,  and  to  extinguish  the  blufli  of 
youthful  timidity ;  which  is  in  young  ladies 
the  mofi  powerful  of  their  exterior  charms. 
B2 


14  MUSIC  AND  DANCING. 

Such  rnafters  fliould  be  chofen  to  in- 
ftrudt  young  ladies  in  thefe  accomplifli- 
ments,  as  are  not  only  well  qualified  to 
fing  and  play,  or  to  dance  themfelves  ;  but 
alfo  who  can  teach  with  good  temper  and 
genteel  behaviour :  they  fhould  recollecl, 
that  vulgar  manners,  with  the  (harp  gef- 
tures  of  anger,  and  its  difagreeable  tones  of 
voice,  are  unpardonable  in  thofe,  who 
profefs  to  teach  graceful  motion,  and  me 
lodious  expreffion  ;  and  may affed  the  talle 
and  temper  of  their  pupils,  fo  as  to  be 
more  injurious  to  their  education  ;  than 
any  thing,  which  they  are  able  to  teach 
them,  can  counterbalance. 


SECTION  III. 

READING. 

reading  is  as  much  a  language  to 
the  eye,  as  fpeaking  is  to  the  ear;  it  re 
quires  much  time  and  labour  for  children 
to  acquire  both  thefe  languages.  Such 
books  (hould  therefore  be  put  into  their 
hands,  as  join  amufement  with  inftrucfHon, 
and  thus  lighten  the  fatigue  of  continued 
application,  as  Sandford  and  Merton,  Pa 
rent's  affiftant,  Evenings  at  home,  and  ma 
ny  others. 

In  learning  to  read  aloud,  a  clear  and 
diftinft  enunciation  is  feldom  acquired  at 
fchools  ;  which  is  owing  to  the  child  ftand- 
ing  clofe  to  the  teacher,  who  looks  over  the 
book  along  with  it ;  and  hence  the  pupil 
finds  no  difficulty  in  being  underftood, 
even  when  fhe  pronounces  only  half 
words.  This  however  is  eafily  remedied 
by  placing  the  reader  at  the  diftance  of 


l6  READING. 

two  yards  or  more  from  the  hearer  ;  then 
the  young  fcholar  foon  finds,  that  fhe  is 
not  underftood,  unlefs  flie  expreflfes  her- 
feif  with  clear  articulation.  For  this  pur- 
pofe  the  teacher  fhould  always  be  provided 
with  a  duplicate  of  the  book,  fhe  teaches; 
that  (he  may  not  be  neceffitated  to  look 
over  the  fhoulderof  her  pupiL 

As  the  young  fcholars  advance  in  the 
knowledge  of  language,  other  books  mufl 
be  taught  them  both  in  profe  and  poetry  ; 
fuch  as  may  improve  their  minds  in  the 
knowledge  of  things,  in  morality,  religion, 
or  which  may  form  their  tafte.  A  great 
number  of  books  for  the  ufe  of  children 
has  been  publiftied  in  late  years ;  many  of 
them  by  very  ingenious  writers,  and  well 
adapted  to  the  purpofe  defigned,  of  fuch  of 
thefe,  as  have  come  to  my  knowledge,  a 
catalogue  (hall  be  given  at  the  end  of  this 
treatife. 


SECTION.  IV. 

WRITING. 

KITING,  as  it  keeps  the  body 
in  a  fixed  pofture,  as  well  as  drawing,  and 
needlework,  fhould  not  be  too  long  appli 
ed  to  at  a  time  ;  fince  the  body,  and  even 
the  countenance,  may  thus  get  a  certain 
tendency  to  one  attitude  ;  as  is  feen  in 
children,  who  are  brought  up  to  fome  me 
chanic  art,  as  in  polifhing  buttons  or  pre 
cious  ftones  on  a  lathe.  A  proper  manner 
of  holding  the  pen,  or  pencil,  or  needle, 
with  an  eafy  but  graceful  attitude  of  the 
perlbn,  and  an  agreeable  moderate  atten 
tion  of  the  countenance,  fhould  firrtbe 
taught ;  for  which  purpofes  an  inclined 
defk  has  many  advantages  over  an  horizon 
tal  table  for  the  books,  or  working  frames  ; 
as  the  body  is  thence  lefs  bent  forwards  ; 
and  the  light  in  general  (ituations  more  vi 
vidly  reflected  to  the  eye. 


i8 


WRITING, 


If  the  defk  be  fixteen  inches  broad,  the 
furthermoft  edge  of  it  fliould  rife  about 
three  inches  and  half  from  the  horizontal 
line  ;  which  produces  the  rnoft  convenient 
inclination,  and  the  table  or  frame,  which 
fupports  it,  for  the  ufe  of  the  taller  chil 
dren,  fhould  rife  about  two  feet  eight  inch 
es  from  the  ground. 


SECTION  V. 

GRAMMAR, 

HIGH  is  an  abftracl  fcience 
teaching  the  texture  of  language,  is  too 
hard  for  very  young  minds;  and  is  there 
fore  generally  taught  too  early  :  and  the 
fame  may  be  faid  of  Arithmetic.  The 
Englifh  grammars  in  general  ufe  at  fchools 
are  both  tedious  and  defective  competi 
tions  ;  an  epitome,  or  extraft,  from  Lowth's 
grammar,  with  the  late  improvements  of 
Mr.  Home  Tooke  in  the  theory  of  lan 
guage,-  would  well  fupply  this  branch  of 
knowledge;  and  might  be  given  to  the 
public  under  the  name  of  a  "rational 
Englifii  grammar." 

Mrs.  Devis  has  published  a  fmall  and 
ufeful  rudiment  of  grammar  purpofely 
for  the  ufe  of  young  ladies  ;  which  may 
be  taught  as  an  introduction  to  Lowth's 
grammar.  The  Abbe  Gaultier's  Jeu  de 


GRAMMAR. 


Grammaire  may  perhaps  be  rendered  a- 
mufing  to  children,  and  convey  to  them 
ideas  of  the  French  grammar. 


SECTION  VI. 

LANGUAGES. 

JL  HE  neceffity  of  learning  fome  an- 
tient  or  foreign  languages  impofes  a  labori 
ous  taflc  on  the  youth  of  both  fexes ;  which 
confumes  years   of  their  precious   time, 
which  might  otherwife  be  employed  in  the 
acquifition  of  faiences.      The  difficulty  of 
obtaining  a   competent  knowledge  of  the 
Greek    or  Latin   language   is  many  times 
greater  than  that  of  obtaining  any  modern 
one  ;  as  may  be  deduced  from  the  innu 
merable  changes   of    the   termination  of 
their  noun*,  adjedives,  and  verbs  ;   which 
to  a  beginner  are  all  fo  many  new  words. 
And  as  the  works  of  the  beft  writers  in  thefe 
languages   have  been   tranflated  into  our 
own,  it  is  lefs  neceflary  in  the  education 
of  ladies  to  expend  fo  much  time  and  la 
bour  in  acquiring  them.     But  as  the  French 
and  Italian  are  lefs  difficult  to  learn,  and 
contain  new  books  of  tafte  and  knowledge, 
C 


22  LANGUAGES. 

which  are  yearly  publifhed  in  this  age  of 
literature  ;  and  as  they  are  convenient  for 
converting  with  foreigners,  who  come 
hither,  or  in  our  travelling  into  other 
countries  ;  and  laftly,  as  they  are  agree 
able  as  well  as  fafhionable  fludies;  the 
pupils  of  boarding  fchools  fhould  be  en 
couraged  to  attain  one  or  both  of  them. 

The  method  recommended  by  Mr. 
Locke  in  his  treatife  on  education,  feft. 
162,  of  teaching  languages  by  converfa- 
tion,  will  on  trial  be  generally  found' fuc- 
cefsful  in  refpect  to  modern  languages 
with  even  the  youngeft  children.  Never- 
thelefs  a  knowledge  of  grammar  fhould 
afterwards  be  taught  with  care,  if  the  child 
be  too  young  at  firft  to  attend  to  it  ;  for 
without  the  aid  of  grammar  not  only  the 
French  or  Italian  languages,  but  even  the 
Engliih  will  not  always  be  fpoken  or  writ 
ten  with  perfect  accuracy. 

For  this  purpofe  of  acquiring  modern 
languages  by  converfation,  a  fchool  gene- 


LANGUAGES.  23 

rally  fupplies  better  opportunities  than  a 
private  family,  befides  the  advantage  of 
fome  degree  of  emulation,  which  frequent 
ly  exifts,  where  children  converfe  to 
gether  :  another  advantage  of  infantine  fo- 
ciety  is,  that  they  learn  many  other  things, 
as  well  as  languages,  by  repeating  them  to 
each  other  ;  and  obtain,  what  isfeldoni  to 
be  acquired  from  adult  companions,  fome 
knowledge  of  phyfiognomy ;  as  the  paffions 
of  children  are  more  legibly  expreffed  on 
their  countenances  than  at  a  maturer  age. 
This  knowledge  of  phyfiognomy,  which 
is  perhaps  only  to  be  acquired  at  fchools, 
by  giving  a  promptitude  of  underftanding 
the  prefent  approbation  or  diflike,  and  the 
good  or  bad  defigns,  of  thofe  whom  we  con- 
verfe  with,  becomes  of  hourly  uie  in  al- 
moft  eveiy  department  of  life. 


SECTION   VIL 

ARITHMETIC 

JLjKE  grammar  is  an  abftraft  fcience, 
which  is  frequently  attempted  to  be  taught 
too  early ;  at  the  fame  time  it  may  be  ob- 
ferved,  that  the  early  initiation  of  moft 
children  into  card  play  ing  before  they  come 
to  fcliool,  by  giving  clear  and  vifible  ideas 
of  the  ten  firft  numerals,  feems  greatly  to 
facilitate  their  acquirement  of  arithmetic  ; 
and  if  this  fafhionable  amufement  could  be 
fo  managed  by  the  parents,  who  allow  it  to 
their  children,  as  not  to  excite  a  defire  of 
gain  along  with  a  conteft  of  ingenuity,  it 
might  be  rendered,  in  fome  ineafure,  ad 
vantageous  by  exciting  the  mind  to  a&ivi- 
ty  in  this  branch  of  fcience  ;  but  is  never- 
thelefs  not  proper  to  be  ufed  in  fchools, 
where  its  effects  on  the  paffions  cannot  be 
fufficiently  watched,  and.  counteracted. 

So  much  of  the  fcience  of  numbers  as 
is  in  common  ufe,  as  the  numeration,  fub- 


ARITHMETIC.  £5 

tradion,  multiplication,  and  divifion  of 
money,  (hould  be  learnt  with  accuracy  ; 
to  which  {hould  be  added  the  rule  of  three, 
and  decimal  fractions;  which  will  abun 
dantly  repay  the  labour  of  acquiring  them 
by  the  pleafure  and  utility,  which  will  per 
petually  refult  from  the  knowledge  of  them 
thro'  life.  The  higher  parts  of  arithme 
tic,  as  algebra  and  fluxions,  belong  to  the 
a^ftrufer  fciences. 

There  are  many  introductory  books  to 
the  fcience  of  arithmetic  ;  thofe  I  have 
heard  moft  recommended  are  Vife's  tutor's 
guide,  Hutton's  pradical  arithmetic,  and 
Wingate's  arithmetic  ;  but  it  is  probable, 
that  moft  of  the  introductory  treatifes  to  a- 
rithmetic  muft  be  nearly  of  equal  excel 
lence. 


SECTION  VIII. 

GEOGRAPHY. 

much  of  this  icience,  as  depends 
only  on  memory,  may  be  taught  to  chil 
dren  in  their  early  years.  They  fhould 
be  taught  to  point  out  on  large  maps  the 
counties  of  England>  and  then  the  prin 
cipal  diviftons  of  Europe,  and  of  the  other 
quarters  of  the  world  ;  and  laftly  to  trace 
out  the  principal  rivers  and  mountains, 
which  ingrave  or  imbofs  its  furface,  which 
is  much  to  be  preferred  to  diffeded  maps  ; 
as  it  is  the  fituations,  rather  than  the  exa<ft 
forms  of  counties  and  of  countries,  which 
ihould  be  attended  to.  Afterwards  the 
uie  of  the  globes  fliould  be  explained  ; 
and  fome  fliort  outline  of  aftronomy  ought 
to  accompany  thefe  lectures. 

A  compendious  fyftem  of  geography 
on  cards,  publifhed  by  Mr.  Newberry,  in 
St.  Paul's  church  yard,  fupplics  a  very  con- 


GEOGRAPHY.  2? 

venient  method  of  inftructing  children. 
Other  geographical  cards  by  Bowles,  tho' 
they  only  mention  the  latitude  and  longi 
tude -of  important  places,  may  alfobe  ufed 
with  advantage.  The  maps,  published  by 
Mr.  Faden,  which  have  blank  outlines  to 
be  filled  up  by  the  ftudent,  are  well  de- 
ligned,  and  not  very  expenfive.  The  Ab 
be  Gaultier's  cours  de  Geographic  formed 
into  a  game  may,  like  his  game  at  gram 
mar,  be  rendered  amufing  to  children, 
and  are  tolerably  well  adapted  both  to  pri 
vate  families,  where  there  are  but  few  pu 
pils,  and  to  public  feminaries  of  in- 
ftrudion. 

Fairman's  geography,  a  fmalj  odavo 
fold  by  Johnfon,  contains  a  fhort  account 
of  the  planets,  and  ufe  of  the  globes. 
Brooks'  gazetteer  is  an  ufeful  work ;  and 
fome  other  good  geographical  publications 
are  mentioned  in  the  catalogue  of  books  at 
the  end  of  this  work. 


SECTION  IX. 

HISTORY. 

np 

JL  HE  hiftory  of  mankind  is  connect 
ed  with  the  knowledge  of  the  earth,  which 
they  cultivate.      A  fummary  of  ihe  hiftory 
of  England  fliould  precede  that  of   other 
nations,  as  it  may  be  more  intereiiing,  and 
more    eafiiy    comprehended    by    Englifli 
children.     Afterwards   an  abridgment  of 
the  hiflory  of  other  nations  both  antient 
and  modern  may  be  collected  from  various 
writers,  but  are  fome  of  them  already  made 
concife  and  agreeable  by  Dr.  Goldfmith  in 
his  hiftories  of  Greece  and  Rome,    as  well 
as  of  England  and  Scotland  ;    which  how 
ever  cannot  be  well  remembered  without 
a   previous   knowledge   of  geography,   or 
by  confulting  maps  with  every  change  of 
place  in  the  account  of  tranfactions. 

Afterwards  a  brief,  but  corred  know 
ledge  of  hiftory  ftill  more  ancient,   and  of 


HISTORY. 


chronology,  comprehending  the  four  great 
empires  of  the  world,  with  the  rife  of  the 
prefent  kingdoms  of  Europe  from  the  fall 
of  the  laft,  may  be  acquired  according  to 
the  plan  of  Mrs.  Chapone  in  her  letters  on 
the  improvement  of  the  mind.  This  out 
line  of  hiftory  and  chronology  may  be  rea 
dily  and  agreeably  learned  from  Prieftley's 
chart  of  hiftory;  which  with  his  chart  of 
biography  fhould  hang  amongft  a  collec 
tion  of  large  well-coloured  maps  in  the 
parlour  of  a  boarding  fchool,  that  they  ir<ay 
frequently  encounter  the  eyes  of  the  young 
(Indents. 


SECTION  X. 

NATURAL    HISTORY. 

JL  HE  hiftory  of  the  various  other 
animals  is  alfo  connected  with  our  know 
ledge  of  the  various  parts  of  the  earth, 
which  they  inhabit.  This  is  termed  na 
tural  hiftory,  and  may  be  taught  to  chil 
dren  earlier  than  the  hiftories  of  mankind, 
as  being  eafier  to  their  compiehenfions, 
and  thence  more  interefting  and  agreeable 
to  them.  Dr,  Goldfmith  in  his  hiftory  of 
animated  nature  has  alfo  made  this  part  of 
knowledge  of  eafy  accefs  ;  and  Mr.  Bew 
ick's  account  of  quadrupedes,  with  wood 
prints  of  the  animals,  and  amufing  tale- 
pieces  to  the  fedions,  are  quite  charming 
to  children.  To  thefe  fhould  be  added  a 
treatife  on  birds,  with  the  fcientific  names 
admirably  adapted  for  the  ufe  of  fchools  by 
Mr.  Galton,  publifhed  by  Johnfon  in  St. 
Paul's  church  yard,  London,  in  three  fmall 
volumes.  And  befides  thefe,  children 


NATURAL    HISTORY.  3! 

fhould  be  permitted  occafionally  to  infpeft 
the  collections  of  foreign  animals,  which 
are  frequently  exhibited  in  this  country  ; 
as  an  examination  of  the  objects  themfelves 
conveys  clearer  ideas  than  prints  and  de- 
fcriptions,  and  at  the  fame  time  adds  to 
their  knowledge,  and  gratifies  their  cu- 
riofity. 


SECTION  XL 

THE  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE 

LRE  too  much  neglefled  in  moft 
boarding  fchools ;  thefe  fiiould  be  taught 
with  fome  care,  as  perhaps  peculiarly  be 
longing  to  Ladies ;  fince  tafte  enters  into 
their  drefs,  their  motions,  their  manners, 
as  well  as  into  all  the  fine  arts,  which  they 
have  leifure  to  cultivate ;  as  drawing,  paint 
ing,  modelling,  making  artificial  flowers, 
embroidery ;  writing  letters,  reading,  fpeak- 
ing,  and  into  almoft  every  circumftance  of 
life. 

The  general  rudiments  of  tafte  are  to 
be  acquired  firft  by  reading  books,  which 
treat  profeffedly  on  the  fubjeft;  as  the  ten 
papers  by  Mr.  Addifon  on  the  power  of 
imagination  in  the  Spedator,  vol.  6,  No. 
411  ;  Akinfide's  pleafures  of  imagination  ; 
Burke  on  the  fublime  and  beautiful ;  Ho- 
*  garth's  analyfis  of  beauty  ;  Mafon's  Englifh 


THE  RUDIMENTS   OF  TASTE.  33 

garden ;  Wheatley's  ornamental  garden 
ing  ;  and  Gilpin's  pidurefque  views.  Se 
condly  by  feleding  and  explaining  admir 
ed  paffages  from  claffical  authors,  as  the 
Beauties  of  Shakefpeare,  of  Johnfon,  and 
of  Sterne.  And  laftly,  by  exhibiting  and 
explaining  the  prints  of  beautiful  objeds, 
or  cafts  of  the  beft  antique  gems  and  me 
dallions. 

The  authors  above  mentioned  have  di 
vided  the  objeds  of   Tafle  into  the  fub- 
lime,   the  beautiful,    and  the  new  5    but  a 
new  fed  of  inquirers  into  this  fubjed  have 
lately  added   the    Pidurefque ;    which   is 
fuppofed  to  differ  from  the  beautiful  by  its 
want  of  fmoothnefs,  and  from  the  fublime 
from  its  want  of  fize  ;  but  thiscircumftance 
has  not  yet   perhaps  undergone  fufficient 
examination. — See  effay  on  Pidurefque, 
by  U.  Price. 

Others   have  endeavoured  to  make  a 
difiindion  between  beauty  and  grace  ;  and 
D 


34  THE  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

have  efteemed  them,  as  it  were,  rivals  for 
the  poffeffion  of  the  human  heart.  But 
Grace  may  be  defined  Beauty  in  adion ; 
for  a  fleeping  beauty  can  not  be  called 
graceful,  in  whatever  attitude  flie  may  re 
cline  ;  the  rnufcles  muft  be  in  adion  to  pro 
duce  a  graceful  attitude,  and  the  limbs  to 
produce  a  graceful  motion.  The  fuppof- 
ed  origin  of  our  ideas  of  beauty  acquired 
in  our  early  infancy  from  the  curved  lines, 
which  form  the  female  bofom,  is  deliver 
ed  in  ZoonomSa,  vol.  I.  fed.  xvi.  6;  but 
is  too  metaphyfical  an  inveftigation  for 
young  ladies. 


SECTION  XII. 

DRAWING  AND  EMBROIDERY. 

JLJRAWING  as  an  elegant  art  be 
longs  to  the  education  of  young  ladies,  and 
greatly  facilitates  the  acquirement  of  Tafte. 
As  this  is  generally  taught  by  matters,  who 
profefs  it,  I  (hall  only  obferve,  that  tho'  as 
an  art  it  confifts  of  deceiving  the  eye,  yet 
as  a  fcience  it  is  capable  of  producing  to 
the  mind  the  moft  fublime  and  beautiful 
images,  or  the  moft  interefting  fcenes  of 
life,  for  ouramufement,  admiration,  or  in- 
ftrucftion. 

The  fame  obfervation  applies  to  Em 
broidery,  which  is  painting1  with  the  needle 
inilead  of  the  pencil,  and  feenis  to  have 
been  a  fafhionable  employment  of  ladies 
of  the  higheft  rank  in  the  early  ages  of  the 
world.  As  the  ladies  in  polite  life  have 
frequently  much  leifure  time  at  their  dif- 
pofal,  it  is  wife  for  them  to  learn  many 


36  DRAWING  AND   EMBROIDERY. 

elegant  as  well  as  ufeful  arts  in  their  early 
years ;  which  they  may  afterward  cultivate 
for  their  amufement  ;  and  thus  deprive 
folitude  of  irkfomenefs  :  And  by  being 
able  to  entertain  themfelves,  they  may  be 
lefs  folicitous  to  enter  the  circles  of  diffi- 
pation,  and  depend  lefs  for  happinefs  on 
the  caprice  of  others. 

Befides  the  amufement  or  accomplish- 
ment  of  poffeffing  the  talent  of  drawing, 
there  is  another  advantage  refulting  from 
it  ;  which  conlifts  in  ufing  the  pencil  as  a 
language  to  exprefs  the  forms  of  all  vifible 
objefts,  as  of  flowers,  machines,  houfes, 
landfcapes  ;  which  can  not  in  words  alone 
be  conveyed  to  others  with  fufficient  accu 
racy  :  For  this  end  it  may  be  fufficient  to 
draw  in  outlines  alone  the  figures  of  na 
tural  things,  without  expending  fo  much 
time  on  this  art,  as  is  requifite  to  enable 
the  learner  to  add  the  nice  touches,  which 
form  the  delicate  gradations  of  (hade  and 
colour. 


DRAWING   AND   EMBROIDERY.  37 

It  may  be  fuppofed,  that  fome  know 
ledge  of  the  fcience  of  perspective  fhould 
be  previoufiy  acquired  for  the  purpofe  of 
drawing  the  outlines  of  objeds  ;  but  I  fuf- 
pe£t,  that  this  is  not  always  neceffary,  (ince 
at  our  learning  to  fee  ;  before  we  have 
compared  the  ideas  received  by  the  fenfe 
of  fight  with  thofe  received  by  that  of 
touch  ;  any  objecft  placed  before  our  eyes, 
as  fuppofe  the  face  of  a  companion,  muft 
appear  a  flat  coloured  or  (haded  furface, 
and  not  a  folidfubftance covered  with  emi 
nences  and  depreffions  ;  as  is  fo  well 
proved  by  Bifhop  Berkley  in  his  theory  of 
vifion.  Hence  if  any  one  could  fo  far 
unlearn  the  language  of  fight  as  to  imagine 
the  face  of  his  companion  to  be  a  flat  co 
loured  furface  only,  (as  it  is  really  feen) 
he  would  draw  from  nature  as  eafily  and 
exadly,  as  if  he  was  copying  a  picture,  as 
the  inequalities  would  appear  lights  and 
fhades  ;  and  he  would  thus  be  enabled  to 
take  the  likenefs  with  much  greater  facili 
ty  and  accuracy  without  the  aid  of  t lie  rules 
of  perfpedive*  D  2 


SECTION  XIII. 

THE  HEATHEN  MYTHOLOGY 

.S  conneded  with  the  fiudy  of  tafler 
and  fhould  therefore  be  taught  in  boarding 
fchools;  as  without  fome  knowledge  of  it 
the  works  of  the  painters,  ftatuarifts,  and 
poets,  both  antient  and  modern,  can  not 
be  underftood.  But  as  a  great  part  of  this 
mythology  confifts  of  perfonified  vices, 
much  care  fihould  be  taken  in  female 
fchools,  as  well  as  in  male  ones,  to  prevent 
any  bad  impreffions,  which  might  be  made 
on  the  mind  by  this  kind  of  erudition  ; 
this  is  to  be  accomplifhed  by  explaining 
the  allegorical  meaning  of  many  of  thefe 
fuppofed  adions  of  heathen  deities,  and 
by  fhewing  that  they  are  at  prefent  ufed 
only  as  emblems  of  certain  powers,  as  Mi 
nerva  of  wifdom,  and  Bellona  of  war,  and 
thus  conflitute  the  language  of  painters  ; 
and  are  indeed  almoft  the  whole  language 
which  that  art  poffefies,  befides  the  delinea 
tion  of  vifible  objeds  in  reft  or  in  adion. 


HEATHEN  MYTHOLOGY.  39 

Thefe  emblems  however  arc  not  to  be 
fo  eafily  acquired  by  defcriptions  alone, 
nor  fo  eafily  remembered  by  young  pupils; 
as  when  prints  of  antique  ftatues,  or  me 
dallions,  or  when  cameos,  or  impreffions 
of  antique  gems,  are  at  the  fame  time 
{hewn  and  explained  to  them.  For  this 
purpofe  the  prints  of  Spence's  Poly  metis 
may  be  exhibited  and  explained  ;  from 
which  Bell's  pantheon  is  principally  ta 
ken  :  And  Dannet's  dictionary  of  mytho 
logy,  originally  written  in  French,  may 
be  occafionally  confulted  ;  and  the  notes 
on  Mr.  Pope's  tranflations  of  Homer. 

There  is  alfo  a  little  book  intitled,. 
14  Inftrudions  fur  les  Metamorphofes,  par 
M.  Le  Ragois,"  which,  I  am  informed  is 
an  tifeful  and  unexceptionable  work  for 
this  purpofe,  containing  a  kind  of  fumma- 
ry  of  each  ftory  of  fabulous  mythology  :  to 
which  may  be  added  a  tranflation  of  Ovid's 
Metamorphofes,  publiftied  by  Garth ;  which 
I  am  told,  is  the  beft  tranflation  of  that 


4-O      -  HEATHEN  MYTHOLOGY. 

work.  Much  agreeable  knowledge  of  this 
kind  is  to  be  found  in  Byrant's  mythology  ; 
Abbe  de  Pluche's  hiftory  of  the  heavens; 
Warburton's  eflay  on  Eleufinian  myfteries; 
to  which  I  beg  leave  to  add  the  defcrip- 
tion  of  the  Portland  vafe  in  the  notes  to 
the  firft  volume  of  the  Botanic  garden. 


SECTION  XIV. 

POLITE    LITERATURE 

(lAY  be  divided  into  diflertations, 
plays,  romances,  poems ;  each  of  which, 
if  the  works  are  properly  feleded,  may  af 
ford  amufement  and  inflrudion  to  young 
perfons  ;  of  fome  of  the  books  of  each  of 
jhefe  claflTes  of  literature  a  catalogue  will 
be  given  at  the  end  of  the  work. 

Such  diflertations,  as  have  been  gene 
rally  admired,  may  be  feleded  from  the 
Spectator,  Tatler,  Guardian,  the  World, 
the  Rambler,  Adventurer,  Looker-on, 
befides  many  others. 

Plays  are  of  three  kinds,  tragical,  fen- 
timental,  and  humourous  ;  of  the  firft, 
Addifon's  Cato  has  been  long  admired;  and 
the  tragedies  of  Thompfon  confift  of  fine 
language.  Of  the  fecond  kind  Cumber 
land's  comedies  are  inftances  ;  and  of  the 


42  POLITE   LITERATURE. 

third  Sheridan's  comedies  ;  fome  of  which 
are  entertaining  and  inoffenfive,  and  may 
be  read  by  young  ladies  without  injury  to 
their  morals,  or  much  outrage  to  their 
feelings. 

There  are  many  plays,  which  are  bet 
ter  feen  as  exhibited  on  the  ftage,  than  as 
read  in  the  clofet ;  becaufe  the  objeftiona- 
ble  paflages  are  generally  omitted  in  the 
reprefentation.  But  whether  young  la 
dies  iliould  be  taught  to  aft  plays  them- 
felves,  as  is  done  at  fome  boy's  fchools,  is 
a  matter  of  doubt.  The  danger  confifts 
in  this,  left  the  acquifition  of  bolder  ac 
tion,  and  a  more  elevated  voice,  ftiould  an 
nihilate  that  retiring  modefly,  and  blufln- 
ing  embarraflment,  to  which  young  ladies 
owe  one  of  their  moil  powerful  external 
charms. 

If  young  ladies  act  plays  amongft  them- 
felves  only,  or  without  admitting  more 
than  two  or  three  of  their  friends  or  pa- 


POLITE   LITERATURE.  43 

rents  ;  or  if  they  repeat  chofen  fcenes  of 
plays,  or  fpeeches  only,  much  of  the  above 
objection  ceafes,  and  fome  advantages  may 
refult  to  their  attitudes  or  enunciation. 
Madam  de  Genlis'  Theatre  d'Education 
affords  the  lean:  exceptionable  whole  plays, 
with  the  facred  dramas  of  Mils  Moore,  and 
of  Metaftafio. 

3.  Novels  or  romances  may  be  divid 
ed  into  the  ferious,  the  humourous,  and 
the  amorous.  Of  thefe,  the  laft  (hould 
be  intirely  interdicted ;  but  the  firft,  when 
well  managed,  may  convey  inftru&ion  in 
the  moft  agreeable  and  forcible  manner  : 
Such  as  Mr.  Day's  Sandford  and  Merton. 
The  Children's  Friend.  Tales  of  the  Caf- 
tle.  Robin fon  Crufoe.  Edward,  by  the 
author  of  Zelucco.  And  to  thefe  may  be 
added  fome  other  modern  novels,  the  pro- 
dudions  of  ingenious  ladies,  which  are 
I  believe  lefs  objeilionable  than  many 
others  ;  as  the  Evelina,  Cecilia,  and  Ca 
milla  of  Mifs  Burney.  The  Emmeline 


44  POLITE  LITERATURE. 

and  Ethelinda  of  Charlotte  Smith  ;  Inch- 
bald's  fitnple  fiory  ;  Mrs.  Brock's  Emily- 
Montague  ;  and  the  female  Quixote ;  all 
which  I  have  here  introduced  from  the 
charader  given  to  me  of  them  by  a  very 
ingenious  lady  ;  not  having  myfelf  read 
them  with  fufficient  attention.  And  laft- 
ly,  the  humorous  novels,  which  are  not 
written  to  inflame  the  paflions,  convey  in- 
flruction,  as  far  ^  they  are  imitations  of 
real  life  :  Of  thelf  are  La  Sage's  famous 
novel  of  Gil  Bias ;  and  Fielding's  Tom 
Jones;  neither  of  which  however  are  pro 
per  books  for  young  readers. 

There  are  many,  who  condemn  the  ufe 
of  novels  altogether  ;  but  wrnt  are  epic  po 
ems  but  novels  in  verfe  ? — It  is  difficult 
to  draw  the  line  of  limit  between  novels, 
and  other  works  of  imagination  ;  unlefs 
the  word  novel  be  confined  to  mean  only 
the  romances  of  love  and  chivalry. 

It  is  true  indeed,  that  aimoft  all  novels, 
as  well  as  plays,  and  epic  poems,  have  fome 


POLITE  LITERATURE.  45 

exceptional  paffages  to  be  found  in  them  ; 
which  might  therefore  be  expunged,  be 
fore  they  are  allowed  to  be  read  by  young 
ladies.  But  are  young  women  therefore 
to  be  kept  in  intire  ignorance  of  mankind, 
with  whom  they  mud  fhortly  affbciate, 
and  from  whom  they  are  frequently  to 
choofe  a  partner  for  life?  This  would  be 
making  them  the  flaves  rather  than  the 
companions  of  men,  like  the  Sultanas  of 
a  Turkifh  Seraglio.  And  how  can  young 
women,  who  are  fecluded  from  the  other 
fex  from  their  infancy,  form  any  judgment 
of  men,  if  they  are  not  to  be  afiiftedby  fuch 
books,  as  delineate  manners? — A  lady  of 
fortune,  who  was  perfuaded  by  her  guar 
dian  to  marry  a  difagreeable  and  felfifhman, 
fpeaking  to  her  friend  of  the  ill  humour 
of  her  hufband,  lamented,  that  fhe  had 
been  prohibited  from  reading  novels.  "  If 
lt  I  had  read  fuch  books,  faidfhe,  before  I 
ct  was  married,  I  fliould  have  chofen  bet- 
41  ter;  I  was  told,  that  all  men  were  alike 

11  except  in  refpedl  to  fortune." 
E 


46  POLITE   LITERATURE. 

We  muft  however  obferve,  that  novels 
are  perhaps  more  objectionable  in  fchools 
than  in  private  education  ;  as  the  com 
ments  of  one  bad  mind  may  be  dangerous 
to  the  whole  community  :  And  as  they  are 
more  amufing  to  young  people  than  any 
other  books,  if  read  too  early,  they  may 
give  a  diftafte  to  more  ufeful  knowledge  ; 
which  are  good  reafons  for  the  total  prohi 
bition  of  them  in  fchools  :  And  in  private 
education,  left  a  preference  of  fiction  to 
truth  fhould  be  thus  inftilled,  the  ridicu 
lous  paffages,  with  which  even  the  beft  no 
vels  abound,  fhould  be  carefully  pointed 
out  by  a  friend  or  governefs ;  with  their 
exaggerations,  improbabilities,  and  fre 
quent  deviations  from  nature. 

There  are  indeed  few  books,  which 
delineate  manners,  whether  in  profe  or 
poetry,  however  well  chofen,  which  have 
not  fome  objectionable  paffages  in  them. 
In  reading  the  fables  of  Efop,  Mr. 
Rouffeau  well  obferves,  that  the  effect 


POLITE   LITERATURE.  47 

on  the  mind  may  frequently  be  totally  dif 
ferent  from  that  defigned  by  the  author  ; 
as  in  the  fable  where  the  fox  flatters  the 
crow,  and  gains  the  piece  of  cheefe,  the 
moral  was  defigned  to  (hew  the  folly  of  at 
tending  to  flatterers  ;  but  may  equajly  be 
fuppofed  to  applaud  the  cunning  of  the 
fox  or  flatterer,  who  is  rewarded.  In  the 
popular  narrative  of  Robinfcn  Crufce  a 
childifh  fuperftition  concerning  intima 
tions  of  future  events,  fomewhat  like  the 
fecond  fight  of  the  highlands  of  Scotland, 
is  frequently  inculcated  ;  and  the  ufe  of 
rum  or  brandy  is  propofed  as  an  infallible 
cure  in  all  maladies  ;  which  however  I  am 
told  is  correded  in  the  new  Robinfc-n 
Crufce. 

Pamela,  and  Jofeph  Andrews,  and  Cia- 
rifla  Harlow,  are  recommended  by  Ma 
dame  de  Genlis,  and  by  Mrs.  Macawley.-  - 
Madame  de  Genlis  in  a  note  in  one  of  her 
works  gives  her  reafon  for  recommending 
Richardfon's  novels  ;  becaufe  his  heroines 


4  POLITE   LITERATURE. 

retain  a  more  confiderable  degree  of  com 
mand  over  their  affections  than  thole  of 
apparently  lefs  exceptionable  romances. 
In  this  refped  a  novel  called  "  Plain 
Senfe,"  lately  publiftied  by  Lane,  and 
written  by  an  ingenious  Chefhire  lady, 
claims  the  preference  to  all  others,  and  ap 
pears  tome  to  carry  this  idea  to  excefs. 

The  works  of  Richardfon  are  never- 
thelefs  not  only  too  voluminous,  and  thence 
would  confume  too  much  time,  which 
might  be  better  employed  in  fchools;  but 
in  thefe,  and  even  in  Mr.  Pope's  rape  of 
the  lock,  and  his  ELoifa  to  Abelard,  many 
objectionable  paiTages  of  another  kind  may 
be  difcovered.  If  thefe  paffages,  from 
which  fo  few  books  are  totally  exempt, 
were  expunged,  it  might  raife  curiofity, 
and  induce  young  people  to  examine  dif 
ferent  copies  of  the  fame  work,  and  to 
feek  for  other  improper  books  thernfelves  ; 
it  is  therefore  perhaps  better,  when 
thefe  books  are  read  to  a  governefs,  that 


POLITE   LITERATURE.  49 

(he  Ihould  exprefs  difapprobation  in  a 
plain  and  quiet  way,  of  fuch  paffages,  ra 
ther  than  to  expunge  them  ;  which  would 
give  a  feeling  of  diflike  to  the  pupil,  and 
confirm  her  delicacy,  rather  than  give  im 
purity  to  her  ideas. 

Much  therefore  depends  on  the  con 
duct  of  the  governefs  in  this  refped,  fo 
long  as  they  are  under  the  eye  of  a  judi 
cious  monitor,  no  real  harm  could  proba 
bly  arife  from  their  feeing  human  nature 
in  all  the  clades  of  life,  not  only  as  it  fliould 
be,  or  as  it  may  be  imagined  to  be,  but  as 
it  really  exifts,  fince  without  comparifon 
there  can  be  no  judgment,  and  confequent- 
ly  no  real  knowledge. 

It  muft  neverthelefs  be  obferved,  that 
the  exceffive  ftudy  of  novels  is  univerfally 
an  ill  employment  at  any  time  of  life  ;  net 
only  becaufe  fuch  readers  are  liable  to  ac 
quire  a  romantic  tafte  ;  and  to  return  from 
the  flowery  fcenes  of  fiflion  to  the  com- 
E2 


50  POLITE    LITERATURE. 

mon  duties  of  life  with  a  degree  of  regret ; 
but  becaufe  the  high-wrought  fcenes  of 
elegant  diftrefs  difplayed  in  novels  have 
been  found  to  blunt  the  feelings  of  fuch 
readers  towards  real  objeds  of  mifery  ; 
which  awaken  only  difgufh  in  their  minds 
inftead  of  fentiments  of  pity  or  benevo 
lence. 

4.  The  works  of  the  poets,  as  well  as 
thofe  of  the  writers  of  novels,  require  to 
be  felecled  with  great  caution.  The  fame 
may  be  faid  of  painting,  fculpture,  and 
mulic;  which  by  delighting  the  imagina 
tion  influence  the  judgment,  and  may 
thence  be  employed  either  to  good  or  bad 
purpofes  :  But  as  poetry,  when  thus  feled- 
ed,  like  painting,  fculpture,  and  muiic,  its 
rival  lifters,  is  an  objecl  of  refined  tafte, 
and  affords  an  elegant  amufernent  at  leaft, 
ifc  fo  far  belongs  to  the  education  of  young 
ladies. 

Gay's  fables,  Thorn fonVfeafons,  Gif- 
borne's  walk  in  a  foreft,  are  proper  for  the 


POLITE    LITERATURE.  5! 

younger  claffes  of  pupils;  afterwards  Pope's 
Ethic  epiftles,  and  eiiay  on  man,  Gold- 
fmith's  poems,  Akinfide,  Mafon,  GrayT 
and  others,  which  are  enumerated  in  the 
catalogue.  1  forbear  to  mention  the  Bo 
tanic  garden  ;  as  fome  ladies  have  intimat 
ed  to  me,  that  the  Loves  of  the  plants  are 
defcribed  in  too  glowing  colours  ;  but  as  the 
defcriptions  are  in  general  of  female  forms 
in  graceful  attitudes,  the  objedion  is  lefs 
forcible  in  refped  to  female  readers..  And 
befides  the  celebrated  poets  of  our  own 
country,  as  Milton  and  Shakefpeare,  tran- 
flations  from  the  antients,  as  from  Homer 
and  Virgil;  and  from  the  more  modern 
poems  of  Taffo,  andCamoens,  may  be  read 
with  pleafure  and  improvement,  tho'  fome 
objectionable  paffages  may  perhaps  be 
found  in  all  of  them. 

5.  For  the  purpofe  of  forming  a  flyle 
in  writing,  a  few  well-chofen  books  fhould 
be  read  often  over  ;  till  the  ear  acquires, 
as  it  were,  the  mufick  of  the  fentences ; 


52  POLITE   LITERATURE. 

and  the  imagination  is  thus  enabled  to  co 
py  it  in  our  own  compofitions ;  fuch  as 
thofe  papers  of  the  Spectator,  which  are 
afcribed  to  Addilbn,  and  are  terminated 
with  a  capital  letter  of  the  word  Clio  ;  or 
fome  of  Lady  Wortley  Montague's  letters 
from  Turkey  ;  or  other  works  of  chafte, 
diftind,  and  expreflive  ftyle,  not  overload 
ed  with  metaphors,  which  with  fuperabun- 
dance  of  ornament  injure  perfpicuity. 

But  for  other  purpofes  of  education  it 
is  perhaps  better  to  teach  young  people 
ieled  parts  of  many  books,  than  a  few  en 
tire  ones  ;  not  only  becaufe  the  pupils 
will  thus  be  acquainted  with  more  authors 
in  fafhionable  literature  ;  but  becaufe  the 
bufmefs  of  polite  education  is  to  give  the 
outlines  of  many  fpecies  of  erudition,  or 
branches  of  knowledge  ;  which  the  young 
ladies  may  cultivate  further  at  their  future 
leifure  without  the  affiftance  of  a  teacher, 
as  may  beft  fuit  their  taftes  or  their  fitua- 
tions. 


POLITE   LITERATURE.  53 

I  cannot  conclude  this  fedion  on  po 
lite  learning  without  mentioning,  that 
fome  illiterate  men  have  condemned  the 
cultivation  of  the  minds  of  the  female  fex, 
and  have  called  fuch  in  ridicule  learned 
ladies  ;  as  if  it  was  a  reproach  to  render 
themfelves  agreeable  and  ufeful.  Where 
affectation  is  joined  with  learning,  it  be 
comes  pedantry,  but  this  belongs  oftener 
to  the  ignorant  than  to  the  cultivated  ;  as  is 
fo  well  elucidated  in  u  Letters  to  literary 
ladies,''  a  fmall  duodecimo  publHhed  by 
Johnfon,  and  written  by  one  of  the  inge 
nious  family  of  E in  Ireland. 


SECTION  XV. 

ARTS  AND   SCIENCES. 

JOESIDES  the  acquifition  of  gram 
mar,  languages,  and  common  arithmetic  ; 
and  befides  a  knowledge  of  geography,  ci 
vil  hiftory,  and  natural  hiftory,  there  are 
other  fciences,  an  outline  of  which  might 
be  taught  to  young  ladies  of  the  higher 
clafles  of  the  fchool,  or  of  more  inquiring 
minds,  before  or  after  they  leave  fchool  ; 
which  might  not  only  afford  them  prefent 
amufement,  but  might  enable  them  at  any 
future  time  to  profecute  any  of  them  fur 
ther,  if  inclination  and  opportunity  fliould 
coincide  ;  and,  by  enlarging  their  fphere 
of  tafte and  knowledge,  would occafion  them 
to  be  interefled  in  the  converfation  of  a 
greater  number  and  of  more  ingenious 
men,  and  to  intereit  them  by  their  own 
converfation  in  return. 

1 ,  An  outline  of  Botany  may  be  learnt 
from  Lee's  introduction  to  botany,  and 


AK-TS  AND  SCIENCES.  55 

from  the  trauflacions  of  the  works  of  Lin 
naeus  by  a  fociety  at  Lichfield  ;  to  which 
might  be  added  Curtis's  botanical  maga 
zine,  which  is  a  beautiful  work,  and  of  no 
great  expence.  But  there  is  a  new  treatife 
introductory  to  botany  called  Botanic  dia 
logues  for  the  ufe  of  fchools,  well  adapted 
to  this  purpofe,  written  by  M.  E.  Jacfon, 
a  lady  well  [killed  in  botany,  and  pnblifh- 
ed  by  Johnfon,  London.  And  laftly  I 
fhall  not  forbear  to  mention,  that  the  philo- 
fophical  part  of  botany  may  be  agreeably 
learnt  from  the  notes  to  the  iecond  volume 
of  the  Botanic  garden,  whether  the  poetry 
be  read  or  riot. 

2.  An  outline  of  Chemiflry,  which 
furprizes  and  enchants  us,  may  be  learnt 
from  the  Elemems  of  chemiflry  by  La- 
voifier,  originally  publifhed  in  French  ; 
to  which  may  be  added  a  fmall  work  of 
Fourcroy  called  the  philofophy  of  Chemif- 
try.  The  former  of  thefe  illuftrious  che- 
rnifts  peiifiied  by  the  guillotine,  an  irre 
parable  lofs  to  fcience  and  to  mankind  ! 


56  ARTS  AND   SCIENCES. 

The  acquirement  of  Chemiftry  fhould 
be  preceded  by  a  fkeich  of  Mineralogy  ; 
which  is  not  only  an  interefting  branch  of 
fcience,  as  it  teaches  the  knowledge  of  dia 
monds  and  precious  {tones,  and  of  the  va 
rious  mines  of  metals,  coals,  and  fait;  but 
becaufe  it  explains  alfo  the  difference  of 
foils,  and  is  thus  concerned  in  the  theory 
and  practice  of  agriculture  :  But  there  is 
at  prefent  no  proper  introductory  book, 
that  I  know  of,  on  this  fubjecl  for  the  ufe 
of  children  ;  as  Cronftedi's  and  Bergman's, 
and  Kirwan's  mineralogy  are  too  exact  and 
prolix  ;  nor  could  be  well  underftood  with 
out  a  fmall  collection  of  foflils. 

! 

3.  An  outline  of  the  fciences,  to  which 
Mathematics  have  generally  been  applied, 
as  of  aftronomy,  mechanics,  hydroilatics, 
and  optics,  with  the  curious  addition  of 
electricity  and  magnetifm,may  bed  be  ac 
quired  by  attending  che  lectures  in  experi 
mental  philofophy,  which  are  occafion- 
ally  exhibited  by  itinerant  philofophers  ; 


ARTS   AND   SCIENCES.  57 

and  which  have  almoft  exclusively  acquir 
ed  the  name  of  natural  philofophy. 

The  books  in  common  ufe  for  teaching 
thefe  fciences  are  too  difficult  and  abftrufe 
for  the  ftudy  of  young  perfons.  Some 
parts  of  natural  philofophy  are  rendered 
not  unentertaining  in  the  notes  of  the  fir  ft 
volume  of  the  Botanic  garden,  as  the  the 
ory  of  meteors,  and  of  winds  ;  and  an  ac 
count  of  the  flrata  of  the  earth  ;  which 
neverthelefs  require  too  much  attention 
for  very  young  ladies  ;  but  may  be  read 
with  pleafure  after  leaving  fchool  by  thofe, 
who  poffefs  inquiring  minds.  It  is  to  be 
wifhed  that  fome  writer  of  juvenile  books 
would  endeavour  eafily  to  explain  the 
flructure  and  ufe  of  the  barometer,  and 
thermometer,  and  of  clocks  and  watches, 
which  fupply  a  part  of  the  furniture  of 
our  houfes,  and  of  our  pockets. 

4,    In   the   fame  manner  the  various 
arts  and  manufactories,    which  adorn  and 
F 


58  ARTS  AND   SCIENCES. 

enrich  this  country,  (hould  occafionally  be 
(hewn  and  explained  to  young  perfons,  as 
fo  many  ingenious  parts  of  experimental 
philofophy  ;  as  well  as  from  their  imme 
diately  contributing  to  the  convenience 
of  life,  and  to  the  wealth  of  the  nations, 
which  have  invented  or  eftablifhed  them. 
Of  thefe  are  the  cotton  works  on  the  river 
Derwent  in  Derbyfhire  ;  the  potteries  in 
Staffordfliire;  the  iron-founderies  of  Coal- 
brooke  Dale  in  Shropfhire  ;  the  manufac 
tories  of  Birmingham,  Mancheiler,  Not 
tingham;  but  thefe  are  not  in  the  province 
of  a  boarding  fchool,  but  might  be  advan- 
tageoufly  exhibited  to  young  ladies  by  their 
parents  in  the  fummer  vacations. 

5.  In  this  fedion  of  arts  and  fciences 
it  may  be  proper  to  mention  the  art  of 
producing  a  technical  memory  invented 
by  Mr.  Gray  ;  which  may  be  readily  ac 
quired  by  confulting  his  book,  and  may 
perhaps  be  of  advantage  in  remembering 
dates  or  numbers  ;  as  they  are  exprefled 


ARTS  AND   SCIENCES.  59 

by  letters,  and  formed  into  words.  This 
work  1  attended  to  in  my  youth,  but  found 
it  an  arnufing  trick,  rather  than  an  ufeful 
art, 

6.   The   art    of    writing    Short-hand, 
which  is  faid  to  be  of  Englifli  invention, 
fhould  alfo  be  mentioned  in  this  place. 
The  book  I  learned  this  art  from  was  pub- 
lifhed  by  Gurney,  and  faid  to  be  an  im 
provement    on  Mafon  ;   other  treatifes  of 
£hort-hand    I    have    alfo    examined,    but 
found  them  all  nearly  of  equal  excellence. 
I  can  only  add,  that  many  volumes,  which 
I  wrote  from  medical  ledures,  I  now  find 
difficult  to  decypher  ;  and  that  as  the  words 
in  fhort-hand  are  fpelt  from  their  found 
only  ;  thofe  fcholars,  who  pradife  this  art 
early  in  life,  are   liable  not  afterwards  to 
fpell  our  language   corretftly  ;    and  laftly, 
that    I  believe,    this  art  is    flill  capable  of 
improvement  by  firft  forming  a  more  ac 
curate  alphabet,  than  that  in  common  ufe 
among  all  European  nations. 


60  ARTS  AND   SCIENCES. 

7.  This  fecftion  on  aits  and  faiences 
may  perhaps  be  thought  to  include  more 
branches  of  them,  than  is  neceffary  for  fe 
male  erudition.  But  as  in  male  education 
the  tedious  acquirement  of  antient  lan 
guages  for  the  purpofe  of  iludying  poetry 
and  oratory  is  gradually  giving  way  to  rhe 
more  ufeful  cultivation  of  modern  fciences, 
it  may  be  of  advantage  to  ladies  of  the  rif- 
ing  generation  to  acquire  an  outline  of  fi- 
milar  knowledge  ;  as  they  are  in  future  life 
to  become  companions;  and  one  of  the 
greateft  pleafures  received  in  converfation 
confifts  in  being  reciprocally  well  under- 
flood.  Botany  is  already  a  fafhionable  ftudy 
for  ladies;  and  chemiftry  is  ingenioufly  re 
commended  to  them  in  the  Letters  to  lite 
rary  ladies. 


SECTION   XVI. 

MORALS. 

JL  HE  criterion  of  moral  duties  has 
been  varioufly  delivered  by  different  wri 
ters  :  Expediency,  by  which  is  meant 
whatever  increafes  the  fum  of  public  hap- 
pinefs,  is  by  fome  called  the  criterion  of 
virtue  ;  and  whatever  dimimfhes  that  fum 
is  termed  vice.  By  others  the  happinefs 
or  mifery  of  the  individual,  if  rightly  un- 
derftood,  is  faid  to  be  the  bond  of  moral 
obligation.  And  laftly,  by  others  the  will 
of  God  is  faid  to  conftitute  the  fole  crite 
rion  of  virtue  and  vice. 

But  befides  fyftematic  books  of  morali 
ty,  which  are  generally  too  abfirufe  for 
young  minds,  morals  may  be  divided  into 
five  departments  forthe  greater  convenien- 
cy  of  the  manner  of  inftruclion. 


02  MORALITY. 

1.  A  fympathy  with  the  pains  and 
pleafures  of  others,  or  compaflion. 

2.  A  ftridl  regard  to  veracity. 

3.  Prudence,  juftice,  chaftity. 

4.  Fortitude. 

5.  Temperance. 


SECTION  XVIL 

COMPASSION. 

A  SYMPATHY  with  the  pains  and 
pleafures  of  others  is  the  foundation  of  all 
our  focial  virtues.  tfc  Do  AS  YOU  WOULD  BE 
DONE  BY,"  is  a  precept  which  defcended 
from  heaven.  Whoever  feels  pain  him- 
felf,  when  he  fees  others  affected  with  it, 
will  not  only  never  be  liable  to  give  pain, 
but  will  always  be  inclined  to  relieve  it. 
The  lady,  who  poflfeffes  this  chriftian  vir 
tue  of  compaffion,  cannot  but  be  a  good 
daughter,  a  good  wife,  and  a  good  mother, 
that  is,  an  amiable  charader  in  every  de 
partment  ©f  life. 

The  manner  of  communicating  this 
benevolent  fympathy  to  children  confifts 
in  expreffing  our  own  fympathy,  when  any 
thing  cruel  prefents  itfelf;  as  in  the  de- 
ftrudion  of  an  infed ;  or  when  adions  of 


64  COMPASSION. 

crueky  are  related  in  books  or  in  converfa- 
tion.  I  once  obferved  a  lady  with  appa 
rent  expreflions  of  fympathy  fay  to  her  lit 
tle  daughter,  who  was  pulling  off  the  legs 
of  a  fly,  "  how  fliould  you  like  to  have 
"  your  arms  and  legs  pulled  off?  would  it 
"  not  give  you  great  pain?  pray  let  it  fly 
"  away  out  of  the  window  :"  which  I  doubt 
not  would  make  an  indelible  impreffion  on 
the  child,  and  lay  the  foundation  of  an 
amiable  character* 

This  virtue  of  compaffion  is  a  certain 
foundation  of  benevolence  ;  and  on  that 
account  renders  children  good  to  their  own 
parents  in  the  latter  part  of  their  lives,  as 
well  as  to  all  other  people  ;  an  important 
circumftance  to  the  happinefs  of  our  latter 
years !  Where  cruelty  or  malevolence 
refides  in  the  bread,  it  is  generally  exercif- 
ed  mod  by  the  child  upon  the  aged  parent, 
with  whom  in  civilized  fociety  he  frequent 
ly  refides  ;  and  who  often  lives  fo  long  as 
to  ftand  in  his  way  to  the  pofTeffion  of  a 
wifhed-for  inheritance. 


COMPASSION.  65 

This  compaHion,  or  fyrnpathy  with  the 
pains  of  others,  ought  alfo  to  extend  to  the 
brute  creation,  as  tar  as  our  neceflities  will 
admit  ;  for  we  cannot  exift  long  without 
the  deftrudion  of  other  animal  or  vegetable 
beings  either  in  their  nature  or  embryon 
flate.  Such  is  the  condition  of  mortality, 
that  the  firft  law  of  nature  is  "  eat,  or  be 
eaten.'*  Hence  for  the  prefervation  of 
our  exiftence  we  may  be  fuppofed  to  have 
a  natural  right  to  kill  thofe  brute  creatures, 
which  we  want  to  eat,  or  which  want  to  eat 
us ;  but  to  deftroy  even  infeds  wantonly 
thews  an  unreflecting  mind,  or  a  depraved 
heart. 

A  ycung  gentleman  once  allured  me, 
that  he  had  lately  fallen  in  love  with  a 
young  lady  ;  but,  on  their  walking  out  one 
evening  in  fummer,  fhe  took  two  or  three 
Heps  out  of  her  way  on  the  gravel  walk  to 
tread  upon  an  in  fed  ;  and  that  afterwards 
whenever  the  idea  of  her  came  into  his 
mind,  it  was  attended  with  this  pidure  of 


66  COMPASSION. 

adive  cruelty;  till  that  of  the  lady  ceafed 
to  be  agreeable,  and  he  relinquished  his 
delign  of  courtfhip. 

Neverthelefs  this  fympathy,  however 
amiable  and  necefTary,  may  be  carried  to 
an  extreme,  fo  as  to  render  miferable  the 
perfon,  who  poflefles  it ;  fince  many  piti 
able  objefls  mutt  be  feen  in  our  journey 
through  life,  which  we  have  not  power  to 
relieve.  This  then  furnifhes  us  with  a 
barrier  or  line,  where  to  flop  ;  that  is,  we 
fhould  endeavour  to  render  our  little  pu 
pils  alive  to  fympathize  with  all  remedia- 
ble  evils;  and  at  the  fame  time  to  arm 
them  with  fortitude  to  bear  the  light  of 
fuch  irremediable  evils,  as  the  accidents 
of  life  muft  frequently  prefent  before 
their  eyes. 

There  fhould  alfo  be  a  plan  in  fchcols 
to  promote  the  habit  as  well  as  the  prin 
ciple  of  benevolence;  each  young  lady- 
might  occafionally  contribute  a  fmall  fum 


COMPASSION.  67 

on  feeing  a  needy  naked  child  to  purchafe 
flannel  or  coarfe  linen  for  clothes,  which 
they  might  learn  to  cut  out,  and  to  make 
up  themfelves;  and  thus  the  pradice  of  in- 
duftry  might  be  united  with  that  of  libe 
rality. 

Another  flill  more  practical  mode  of 
producing  a  habit  of  benevolence  in  chil 
dren  might  be  by  inducing  them  to  em 
ploy  fome  leifure  hours  in  little  works  of 
tafte,  as  in  making  artificial  flowers,  purfes, 
fringes,  and  bellowing  thefe  on  poor  peo 
ple,  in  order  that  they  might  fell  them  for 
their  fupport.  Mifs  Hartley  at  Bath,  the 
daughter  of  the  great  medical  philofopher 
of  that  name,  has  lately  exhibited  an  amia 
ble  example  of  this  kind  of  philanthropy  ; 
(he  has  been  long  diflinguiihed  by  her  ta 
lents  as  an  artift  in  painting  ;  and  has  late 
ly  diftributed  her  elegant  performances 
among  the  poor  famiihed  emigrants,  who 
refide  in  her  neighbourhood  ;  who  are  thus 
greatly  affifted  by  the  fale  of  her  works. 


68  COMPASSION. 

Another  channel,  in  which  this  fym- 
pathy  fhould  be  taught  to  flow,  is  in  the 
obfervance  of  thofe  attentions,  which  per 
petually  diffufe  happinefs  by  promoting  by 
courtefy  of  behaviour  the  cheerfulnefs,  or 
forwarding  by  ready  affiftance  the  interefts 
of  thofe,  whether  equals,  inferiors,  or  fu- 
periors  ;  with  whom  every  one  happens  to 
aiTociate  or  refide  :  which  conftitutes  the 
effemial  part  of  what  is  termed  politenefs 
of  manners  ;  and  univerfally  indicates  a 
benevolent  difpofition. 


SECTION  XVIII. 

VERACITY. 

JT  OR  the  purpofe  of  inculcating  a 
love  of  truth  early  in  life  the  love  of  praife 
fupplies  the  moft  certain  means.  This 
kind  of  honour  has  an  honeft  pride  for  it's 
bafis  :  a  ftory  is  related  in  one  of  the  mo 
dern  volumes  of  the  univerfal  hiftory  of 
an  inhabitant  of  Conftantinople,  who  was 
brought  to  the  fcaffoid  for  denying  the 
divine  miffion  of  Mahomet  ;  and  on  hav 
ing  a  pardon  offered  him,  if  he  would 
then  declare  his  error,  anfwered,  that  he 
would  not  fpeak  an  untruth  to  favehis  life. 
And,  I  think,  it  is  recorded,  that  one  of 
the  fathers  of  the  church  ufed  to  affirm, 
that  he  would  not  tell  a  lie,  were  he  fure 
to  gain  heaven  by  it. 


JO  VERACITY. 

I  once  heard  an  ingenious  lady  fay  to 
a  company  of  her  friends,  that  her  daugh 
ter,  a  young  girl,  who  flood  by  with  a 
countenance  flufhed  with  pleafure,  never 
told  her  a  lie  in  her  life  :  This  happy  ufe 
of  flattery  was  likely  to  produce  a  love  for 
veracity,  which  would  never  be  deftroyed 
by  interefled  motives. 

The  difgrace  of  telling  a  lie  fliould  be 
painted  in  vivid  colours,  as  totally  de- 
ftrudive  of  the  character  of  a  lady  or  gen 
tleman,  rendering  them  contemptible  in 
the  eyes  of  the  world  ;  And  the  inconve 
nience  of  this  deteflable  habit  of  lying 
fliould  be  explained  from  its  preventing 
their  being  believed,  when  they  wifh  it ;  as 
is  exemplified  in  the  fable  of  the  fhepherd- 
boy ;  who  called  out  "the  wolf,  the  wolf,"  fo 
often  to  alarm  his  neighbours,  and  thus  to 
amufe  hinifelf,  when  no  wolf  was  near  ; 
that  when  the  real  wolf  attacked  his  flock, 
he  could  by  no  vociferation  prevail  on  any 


VERACITV.  71 

one  to  come  to  his  affiflance  :  Or  like 
the  village-drunkard,  who  frequently  a- 
mufed  himfelf  with  crying  out  ci  fire," 
along  the  ftreets  on  his  return  from  the  alc- 
houfe  in  the  night,  to  the  great  alarm  of  the 
neighbourhood;  till  at  length,  when  his 
cottage  was  really  in  flames,  his  diftrefs 
was  not  believed,  and  he  could  gain  no 
affiftance  toextinguifh  them. 

This  fincerity  of  character  fhould  be 
confirmed  by  the  example  of  the  gover- 
nefTes,  who  fhould  themfelves  pay  the 
moft  exad  and  fcrupulous  attention  to  truth ; 
they  ihould  not  exaggerate  trifling  errors 
into  reprehenfible  faults;  and,  where  re 
proof  is  neceffary,  fhould  give  it  with  kind- 
nefs  ;  and  fhould  not  only  punctually  ful 
fil  their  own  prornifes,  tho'  to  their  incon 
venience,  but  exad  the  fame  from  their 
pupils  in  return. 

To  thefe  fhould  be  added  the  precepts 
of  religion,  as  foon  as  their  minds  are  ca- 


72 


VERACITY. 


pable  of  receiving  them,  which  uniformly 
inculcate  truth  and  probity  in  all  our  words 
and  actions. 


SECTION  XIX. 

PRUDENCE,  JUSTICE,    CHASTITY. 

JL  HE  impreflions  on  the  mind  made 
by  recent  examples  placed,  as  it  were,  be 
fore  our  eyes  have  fo  much  more  durable 
effects,  than  the  more  abftracted  ideas  de 
livered  in  fyftems  of  moral  philofophy  ; 
that  I  believe  the  moft  efficacious  method 
of  inculcating  the  virtue  of  prudence  in 
refpect  to  their  own  conduct  is  by  telling 
young  people  the  ill  confequences,  which 
have  lately  happened  to  others ;  whofe  per- 
ions  or  names  they  are  acquainted  with  :. 
fo  that  a  repetition,  of  the  (lander  of  a 
town,  which  always  degrades  the  retailers,, 
has  fometimes  its  advantage  as  a  leffon  to- 
the  hearers.. 

There  is  another  kind  of  prudence,, 
which  it  is  neceffary  to  acquire  in.fome  de— 


74  PRUDENCE,  JUSTICE,   CHASTITY. 

gree,  which  arms  the  pofleffor  againft  the 
ill  defigns  of  others  ;  hence  they  fliould  be 
taught  to  beware  of  flatterers,  gamefterst 
drunkards,  and  of  all  ill-tempered  perfons. 
As  this  prudence  is  to  be  acquired  by  the 
knowledge  of  mankind,  fuch  books  as  the 
maxims  of  Rochfoucault,  and  others,  might 
be  recommended ;  but  they  give  too  gloo 
my  a  pidure  of  human  nature  to  be  put  in 
to  the  hands  of  young  ladies. 

"  Know  yourfelf"  is  a  celebrated  in- 
jundion,  and  may  conftitute  one  depart 
ment  of  Prudence,  when  any  one  under 
takes  fome  great  action,  or  great  change  in 
the  condition  of  life ;  but  "  know  other 
people'1  is  equally  necefiary  in  paffing  along 
this  fublunary  world,  and  may  be  inferted 
with  propriety  as  another  maxim  in  the 
code  of  prudence.  The  facility  of  know 
ing  others  in  the  daily  intercourfe  of  the 
world  is  produced  by  the  knowledge  of 
phyiiognomy,  acquired  at  fchools  in  early 
life  ;  while  the  paflions  continue  to  be  irn- 


PRUDENCE,  JUSTICE,   CHASTITY.  75 

prefTed  on  the  countenances  of  children  ; 
and  which  is  never  fo  well  acquired  in  pri 
vate  tuition  ;  and  thus  conftitutes  one  cf 
the  great  advantages  of  fchool-education. 

JUSTICE  and  CHASTITY,  which  are  the 
principal  links,  by  which  civilized  fociety 
is  held  together,  are  to  be  inculcated  in 
young  minds  by  iirailar  methods  ;  that  is 
by  pointing  out  by  examples  the  public 
punifhment,  or  public  difgrace,  which  cer 
tainly  accompanies  the  breach  of  either  of 
thefe  important  duties  :  and  afterwards  to 
add  the  precepts  of  religion,  when  their 
minds  are  capable  of  perceiving  their  force, 
to  co-operate  with  the  effect  of  the  laws 
of  fociety,  and  of  the  opinion  of  the  wife 
and  virtuous. 


SECTION  XX. 

FORTITUDE. 

IF  female  children  are  not  treated 
with  tendernefs  by  a  mother  in  their  early 
years  of  infancy,  they  are  perhaps  liable  to 
acquire  a  harfhnefs  of  character,  and  an  ap 
parent  unfeelingnefs,  which  afterwards 
renders  them  lefs  amiable  ;  though  it  may 
give  them  greater  fortitude ;  which  fhoulcl 
therefore  be  inculcated  at  their  rather  ma- 
turer  years., 

Neither  the  robuft  affailing  courage, 
which  prompts  to  the  performance  of  he 
roic  actions,  nor  the  oftentatious  patience, 
which  requires  the  flattery  of  the  public 
eye,  for  its  fupport,  belong  to  the  female 
character.  But  that  ferene  ilrength  of 
mind,  which  faces  unavoidable  danger 
with  open  eyes,  prepared  to  counterad  or 


FORTITUDE.  77 

to  bear  the  neceffary  evils  of  life,  is  equal-* 
ly  valuable  as  a  male  or  female  acquifition. 
This  is  termed  prefence  of  mind  ;  it  de 
pends  on  our  judgme-nt  of  the  real  value 
of  things;  and  on  our  application  of  thofe 
caufes,  which  contribute  to  turn  difagreea- 
ble  circumftances  to  the  bed  advantage  ; 
and  can  therefore  only  be  acquired  by  the 
general  cultivation  of  good  fenfe  and  of 
knowledge. 

An  occafional  effufion  of  tears  has  been 
thought  an  amiable  weaknefs,  and  a  mark 
of  delicacy  of  the  fex.  When  tears  are 
ftied  at  the  irremediable  misfortunes  of 
others,  it  indicates  an  amiable  fenfibility  ; 
but  when  young  ladies  indulge  themfelves 
in  a  promptitude  of  diffolving  into  incef- 
fant  tears  at  every  trivial  diftrefs  of  their 
own,  it  (hews  a  kind  of  infantine  debility 
of  mind,  and  conveys  an  idea  of  their  being 
unfit  for  the  common  duties  of  life  ;  and 
fliould  therefore  be  difcouraged  by  reafon- 
ing  on  the  kind  and  quantity  of  the  evil, 


78  FORTITUDE. 

which  difturbs  them  ;  and  by  reciting  to 
them  the  examples  of  fortitude  exhibited 
by  others  in  difallers  much  more  calamit 
ous,  of  which  there  are  examples  in  the 
letters  of  LadyRufiel  :  And  laftly  by  re 
minding  them  of  the  confolations  of  reli 
gion. 

A  flight  appearance  of  timidity  has 
been  efteemed  another  mark  of  delicacy 
of  the  fex ;  but  timidity  is  the  companion 
of  debility  of  mind  rather  than  of  delica 
cy,  and  fhould  not  therefore  be  encoura 
ged.  In  refpect  to  the  exprefiions  of  fear 
the  violent  cries  and  diftorted  countenan 
ces  of  force  ladies  in  fituations  of  danger 
exhibit  them  in  no  very  amiable  attitudes  ; 
while  they  incresfe  the  confufion,  and 
may  be  laid  "  to  help  the  ftorm  ;"  but  if 
to  thefe  be  added  an  affectation  of  fear 
without  cauie  ;  as  when  a  young  lady 
fcreams  through  the  whole  gamut  at  the 
light  of  a  fpider,  or  a  grafs-hopper  ;  the 
fault  becomes  voluntary,  and  fhould  be 


FORTITUDE.  JQ 

oppofed  and  conquered   by  the  fhafts  of 
ridicule. 

Impudence  in  common  language  has 
been  termed  boldnefs  ;  and  bafhfulnefs 
has  been  afcribed  to  timidity  ;  but  neither 
of  them  with  fufficient  precifion  ;  as  brave 
men  have  been  known  to  be  bafhful,  and 
cowards  impudent.  Aflurance  of  counte 
nance  arifes  from  the  pofifefTor  of  it  rather 
over-valuing  his  own  abilities  ;  and  impu 
dence  confifts  in  this  affurance  with  a  to 
tal  difregard  of  the  opinions  of  others  ; 
but  neither  of  them  bear  any  analogy  to 
fortitude.  On  the  other  hand  modefty 
arifes  from  the  pofTefTor  of  it  rather  under 
valuing  his  own  abilities  ;  and  bafhfnlnefs 
contifts  in  this  rnodefty  with  great  folici- 
tude  about  the  opinions  of  others ;  but  nei 
ther  of  them  are  attended  with  perfonal 
fear.  So  charming  is  the  appearance  of 
this  great  fenfibility  by  adding  a  blufli  to 
the  features  of  beauty,  that  no  endeavours 
fhould  be  ufed  to  extinguifh  it  early  in 


80  FORTITUDE. 

life.  Nor  fhould  any  means  be  contrived 
to  increafe  it  to  excefs,  as  emban aliment 
both  of  thought  and  adion,  and  even  im 
pediment  of  fpeech,  is  then  liable  to  at 
tend  the  great  anxiety  it  occafions. 


SECTION    XXI. 


TEMPERANCE. 


N  C  L  U  D  E  S  the  fubjugation  of 
ihe  appetites  and  paffions  to  reafon  and 
prudence  ;  it  conflils  in  our  moderation 
in  the  ufe  of  all  thofe  things,  which  con 
tribute  to  the  convenience,  comfort,  or  en 
joyment  of  life  ;  as  of  food,  drefs,  plea- 
fures ;  and  in  the  retraining  our  licenti 
ous  paffions,  as  of  anger,  vanity,  love,  am 
bition.  The  method  to  inflil  this  virtue 
is  by  exhibiting  the  various  inconvenien 
ces,  which  attend  unlimited  indulgence  ; 
and  thus  to  inculcate  the  golden  rule  of 
<c  nothing  to  excefs." 

The    example    of  the   governefs   will 
have  great  effed  in  producing  many  of  the 
H 


82  TEMPERANCE. 

virtues  above  mentioned  in  the  minds  of 
her  pupils.  Juftice  in  the  moft  trivial 
circumftance  tnuft  be  carefully  and  exact 
ly  done  between  children  in  refpecft  to 
each  other  in  their  little  difputes  at  play. 
Moderation  and  felf-government  ftiould  al- 
fo  conftantly  appear  in  the  characters  of 
thofe,  who  are  to  teach  thefe  virtues  to 
-others. 


SECTION  XXIL 


RELIGION. 


nn 


JL  HE  precepts  of  religion  are  bed 
taught  by  requiring  the  young  pupils  regu 
larly  to  attend  fuch  places  of  divine  worfhip 
as  their  parents  dired  ;  and  by  reading;  on 
Sundays  felefl  parts  of  the  holy  fcriptures, 
and  fome  approved  books  of  ferrnons  ;  as 
thofe  of  Blair,  and  a  few  others  ;  and  by 
inculcating  the  reafonablenefs  of  daily 
thankfgiving,  and  the  duty  of  daily  pray 
er,  to  the  great  author  of  all  good. 

The  divine  morality  delivered  in  the 
new  teftament  fliould  be  repeatedly  incul 
cated  to  an  infant  audience,  who  cannot  fo 
well  underftand  the  metaphyfical  parts  of 
religion,  fuch  as  the  duty  of  doing  to  others 


.84  RELIGION. 

as  we  would  they  fhould  do  unto  us  :  to 
love  our  neighbours  as  ourfelves  :  to  for 
give  injuries,  not  to  revenge  them  :  and  to 
be  kind  even  to  our  enemies.  For  this 
purpofe  the  fermons  of  the  old  Whole  du 
ty  of  man  are  recommended  ;  one  of  which 
might  be  read  every  Sunday  evening. 

Ladies  of  more  mature  years,  or  who 
have  finifhed  their  fchool-education,  may 
learn  the  neceffity  and  ufefulnefs  of  our  ex 
cellent  religion  from  Baron  Haller's  letters 
to  his  daughter,  from  Lady  Pennington's 
advice  to  her  daughter,  and  laftly  from  Mr. 
Gifborne's  duties  of  the  female  fex  :  and 
the  defence  of  the  truth  of  it  may  be  learn 
ed  from  Mr.  Payley's  evidences  of  chrifti- 
anity  ;  but  perhaps  it  is  better  for  them 
not  to  perplex  their  minds  with  many 
works  of  religious  controverfy. 


SECTION  XXIII, 


ADDRESS.. 


JL  HERE  is  a  fafcinating  manner  in 
theaddrefs  of  fome  people,  which  almoft 
inftantly  conciliates  the  good  will,  and  even 
the  confidence  of  their  acquaintance.  Ma- 
chiavel  in  his  hiftory  of  Caftruccio  Caftri- 
cani  obferves;  that  his  hero  could  affume 
fuch  opennefs  of  countenance  ;  that  though 
he  was  known  to  be  a  man  pradifed  in  every 
kind  of  fraud  and  treachery,  yet  in  a  few 
minutes  he  gained  the  confidence  of  all, 
whom  he  converfed  with  -r  they  went  away 
fatisfiedof  his  good  will  towards  them,  and 
were  betrayed  to  the.ir  ruin.. 

This  enviable  addrefs,    which  may  be 

ufed  for  good  purpofes  as  well  as  for  bad 

ones,  may  be  difficult  to  analize  ;    but  may 

poffibly  confift  fmiply  in  a  countenance  ani.- 

II  2 


86 


ADDRESS, 


mated  with  pleafure  at  meeting  and  con- 
verfing  with  our  acquaintance  ;  and  which 
diffufes  cheerfulnefs  by  pleafurable  conta 
gion  into  the  bofoms  of  others  ;  and  thus  in- 
terefts  them  in  our  behalf.  It  is  not  the 
fmile  of  flattery,  nor  the  fmile  of  felf-ap- 
probation,  nor  the  fmile  of  habit,  nor  of  le 
vity  ;  but  it  is  fimply  an  expreffion  of  plea 
fure,  which  feems  to  arife  at  the  fight  of  our 
acquaintance  ;  and  which  perfuades  them, 
that  they  poffefs  our  love,  and  for  which 
they  barter  their  own  in  return. 

However  this  conciliating  manner  may 
have  been  ufed,  as  above  related,  for  bad  pur- 
pofes  ;  it  probably  proceeded  originally 
from  friendlinefs  and  opennefs  of  heart, 
with  cheerful  benevolence  ;  and  that  in 
thofe,  who  have  in  procefs  of  time  become 
bad  characters,  the  appearance  of  thofe  vir 
tues  has  remained,  after  the  reality  of  them 
hasvanifhed.  What  then  is  the  method, 
by  which  this  inchantment  of  countenance 
can  be  taught  ?  certainly  by  inftilling  cheer- 


ADDRESS.  87 

fulnefs  and  benevolence  into  the  minds  of 
young  ladies  early  in.  life,  and  at  the  fame 
time  an  animation  of  countenance  in  ex- 
preffing  them  ;  and  though  this  pleafurable 
animation  be  at  firft  only  copied,  it  will  in 
time  have  the  appearance  of  being  natural ; 
and  will  contribute  to  produce  by  affocia- 
tion  the  very  cheerfulnefs  and  benevolence, 
which  it  at  fir/I  only  imitated.  This  is  a 
golden  obfervation  to  thofe,  who  have  the 
care  of  young  children.. 

A  very  accomplished  lady,  who  read 
the  manufcript  of  this  work,  wrote  the  fol 
lowing  with  her  pencil  on  the  oppofite  page  ; 
"  nothing  can  be  more  juft  and  interefting 
than  the  whole  of  this  fe<5Uon  ;  yet  however 
defirable  it  may  be  to  mend  an  unpleafant 
abord^  might  one  not  fufped,  fmce  Nature 
has  produced  a  diverfity  of  manner,  that  an 
attempt  to  engraft  this  beautiful  cheerful 
nefs  on  a  grave  fet  of  features  might  produce 
the  worft  of  evil  affectations?  A  natural  fim- 
plicity  of  manner,  whether  ferious  or  gay, 


88 


ADDRESS. 


will  always  pleafe  ;  and  probably  this  amia 
ble  acldrefs  may  be  rendered  equally  confid 
ent  with  natural  manners,  whether  ferious: 
or  gay  ?" 


SECTION  XXIV. 

CONVERSATION. 

EXT  to  the  winning  manners  above' 
defcribed,  the  art  of  pleafing  in  converfa- 
tion  feems  to  confift  in  two  things ;  one  of 
them  to  hear  well ;  and  the  other  to  fpeak 
well.  The  perpetual  appearance  of  attention, 
and  the  varying  expreffion  of  the  countenance 
of  the  hearer  to  the  fentiments  or  paffions 
of  thefpeaker  ;  is  a  principal  charm  in  con- 
verfation;  to  be  well  heard  and  accurately 
underftood  encourages  our  companions  to 
proceed  with  pleafure,  whatever  may  be 
the  topics  of  their  difcourfe* 

Thofe,  who  have  been  educated  at 
fchools,  and  have  learnt  the  knowledge  of 
phyfiognomy  from  their  playfellows  in  their 
early  years,  underftand  the  pleafurable  or 
painful  feelings  of  all  with  whom  they  con- 


9°  CONVERSATION. 

verfe,  often  even  before  their  words  are  fi- 
nifhed;  and,  by  thus  immediately  conform 
ing  the  expreffion  of  their  own  features  to 
the  fenfations  of  the  fpeaker,  become  the 
interefting  and  animated  companions  a- 
bove  defcribed,  which  is  feldom  feen  in 
thofe  educated  in  private  families  ;  and 
which,  as  before  obferved,  gives  a  pre 
ference  to  fchool-education. 

To  fpeak  agreeably  in  refpedt  to 
manner  confifts  in  a  voice  clear,  yet  not 
loud,  foft,  yet  not  plaintive  ;  with  dif« 
tinft  articulation,  and  with  graceful  atti 
tudes  rather  than  with  graceful  aftions; 
as  almoft  every  kind  of  geiliculatiori  is 
clifagreeable.  In  refpeft  to  the  matter 
it  {hould  be  fuch  as  coincides  with  the 
taftesor  purfuits  of  thofe,  to  whom  the 
converfation  is  addrefled.  From  hence 
it  will  appear,  that  both  to  hear  well, 
and  to  fpeak  well,  requires  an  extenfive 
knowledge  of  things,  as  well  as  of  the 
taftes  and  purfuits  of  mankind  ;  and  muft 


CONVERSATION.  gl 

therefore  ultimately  be  the  effect  of  a 
good  education  in  general,  rather  than  a 
particular  article  of  it. 

There  are  however  faults  to  be  a- 
voided,  and  cautious  to  be  obferved,  in 
the  converfation  of  young  ladies  ,•  which 
fliould  be  pointed  out  to  them  by  the  go- 
vernefs  of  a  boarding  fchool.  Of  thefe 
I  (hall  mention  firft,  that  whenever  the 
thirft  of  {liining  in  converfation  feizes  on 
the  heart,  the  vanity  of  the  fpeaker  be 
comes  apparent  ;  and  we  are  difgufted 
with  the  manner,  whatever  may  be  the 
matter  of  the  difcourfe. 

Secondly,  that  it  is  always  childifti, 
and  generally  ridiculous,  when  young 
people  boaft  of  their  follies,  or  when 
they  accufe  themfelves  of  virtues;  nei 
ther  of  which  they  probably  poflefs  in 
the  degree,  which  they  defcribe.  A 
young  lady  was  heard  to  fay,  "  I  am 
frightened  to  death  at  the  fight  of  a 


g2  CONVERSATION. 

bird  :"  And  another,  that  fhe  was  foin- 
confiderate,  as  to  give  her  money  to  the 
poor  naked  children,  whom  (he  faw  in 
the  ftreetsiri  winter. 

:  Thirdly,  they  fhould  be  apprized, 
that  there  is  danger  in  fpeaking  ill  even 
of  a  bad  perfon  ;  both  becaufe  they  may 
have  been  mifinformed,  and  becaufe 
they  (hould  judge  their  neighbours  with 
charity.  A  friend  of  mine  was  once 
afked  by  a  young  man,  how  he  could 
diitinguifh,  whether  the  lady,  whom  he 
meant  to  addieis,  was  good  tempered  ; 
and  gave  this  anfvver.  "  When  any  du 
bious  accufation  is  brought  in  converfa- 
tion  againfl  an  abfent  perfon  ;  if  fhe  al 
ways  inclines  to  believe  the  word  fide  of 
the  queftion,  (he  is  ill-tempered.1'  There 
are  fome  nice  diftinftions  on  this  fubjeft 
of  good  nature  delivered  in  Lady  Pen- 
nington's  advice  to  her  daughters,  which 
are  worth  a  young  lady's  attention. 


CONVERSATION.  Q3 

Fourthly,  that  it  is  dangerous  for  a 
young  lady  to  fpeak  very  highly  in  praife 
even  of  a  deferving  man  ;  for  if  fhe  ex 
tols  his  a£Hons,  (he  will  feem  to  give  her- 
felf  the  importance  of  a  judge,  and  her 
determinations  will  fometimes  be  called 
inqueflion  ;  and  to  commend  highly  the 
perfon  of  a  man  is  in  general  eftimation 
inconfiftent  with  the  delicacy  of  the  fex 
at  any  age. 

Fifthly,  young  ladies  fhould  be  ad- 
vifed  not  to  accuftorn  themfelves  to  the 
ufeof  ftrong  afleverations,  or  of  a  kind 
of  petty  oaths,  fuch  as  "  upon  my  ho 
nour,"  in  their  coDverfation  ;  nor  often 
to  appeal  to  others  for  the  truth  of  what 
they  affirm;  (nice  all  luch  ftrong expref- 
fions  and  appeals  derogate  fomewhat 
from  the  character  of  the  fpeaker  ;  as 
they  give  an  intimation,  that  fhe  has  not 
been  ufually  believed  on  her  fimple  af- 
fertion. 

I 


94  CONVERSATION. 

Sixthly,  laughing  vehemently  aloud, 
or  tittering  with  fnort  (liricks,  in  which 
feme  young  ladies,  who  have  left  fchool, 
indulge  themfelvcs  at  cards  or  other  a- 
rnufernents,  are  reprehen{lh!e  ;  as  their 
dignity  of  character  muft  fuiTer  by  appear 
ing  too  violently  agitated  at  trivial  circum- 
fiances. 

Seventhly,  an  uniform  adherence  to 
fincerity  in  converfation  is  of  the  firfl.  im 
portance  ;  as  without  it  our  words  are  but 
empty  founds,  and  can  no  more  intereft 
our  companions  than  the  tinkling  of  a  bell. 
No  artificial  polifh  of  manners  can  com- 
penfatefor  the  apparent  want  of  this  vir 
tue,  nor  any  acquirements  of  knowledge 
for  the  reality  of  the  want  of  it-  Hence 
though  the  excefs  of  blame  or  praife  of  the 
actions  of  others  may  be  imprudent  or  im 
proper  in  the  converfation  of  young  la 
dies;  as  mentioned  in  the  third  and  fourth 
articles  of  this  fection  ;  yet  in  thefe,  as  in 
all  other  kinds  of  converfation,  their  opini- 


CONVERSATION.  95 

ons  fhould  be  given  with  truth,  if  given 
ar  al^;  but  when  th.j  characters of  others 
are  concerned,  they  fhouid  be  delivered 
with  diffidence  and  modefly. 

LafUy,  if  at  any  time  any  improper  dif- 
courfe  fhould  be  addreiTed  to  young  ladies, 
which  has  a  tendency  to  indecency,  im 
morality,  or  irreligion,  they  fliould  be 
taught  to  exprefs  a  marked  difapprobatien 
both  in  words  and  countenance.  So  great 
is  the  power  of  the  fcfter  fex  in  meliora 
ting  the  charaders  of  men  ;  that,  if  fuch 
was  their  uniform  behaviour,  I  doubt 
not,  but  that  it  would  much  contribute  to 
reform  the  morals  of  the  age;  an  event  de 
voutly  to  be  wilhed,  and  which  would  con 
tribute  much  to  their  own  happinefs. 

To  thefe  might  be  added  many  other 
obfervations  from  the  writers  on  female 
education  concerning  a  due  refpecl  in 
converfation  to  fuperiors,  good  temper  to 


96  CONVERSATION. 

equals,  and  condefcenlion  to  inferiors. 
But  as  young  ladies  are  not-  expeded  to 
fpeak  with  the  wifdom,  or  precifion  of 
philofophersjand  as  the  carelefs  cheerful- 
nefs  of  their  converfation,  with  fimplicity 
of  manner,  and  with  the  grace,  eafe,  and 
vivacity  natural  to  youth,  fupplies  it  with 
its  principal  charms;  thefe  ftiould  be  par 
ticularly  encouraged,  as  there  are  few  ar 
tificial  accompliftiments,  which  couldcom- 
penfate  for  the  lofs  of  them. 


SECTION  XXV. 


EXERCISE. 


r-nn 


Ji  HE  acquirements  of  literature,  and 
of  many  arts,  make  the  lives  of  young  peo 
ple  too  fedentary ;  which  impairs  their 
ftrength,  makes  their  countenances  pale 
and  bloated,  and  lays  the  foundation  of 
many  difeaies;  hence  fome  hours  Ihouid 
every  day  be  appropriated  to  bodily  exer- 
ciies,  and  to  relaxation  of  mind. 

Such  as  tend  to  produce  activity,  and 
to  promote  the  growth  of  the  perfon  in  rel- 
pect  to  height,  are  preferred  in  the  fchools 
for  young  ladies  tothofe,  which  render  the 
fyftem  more  robuft  and  mufcular. 

Of  thefe  playing  at  ball,  at  fliuttlecock, 
Twinging  as  they  fit  on  a  cord  or  cufliioii, 
12 


98  EXERCISE. 

and  dancing,  in  the  open  air  in  fummer, 
and  within  doors  in  winter,  are  to  be  pre 
ferred.  To  thefe  fome  have  recommend 
ed  an  exercife  of  the  arms  by  Twinging  lead 
en  weights,  which  are  called  dumb  bells  ; 
thefe  fhould  be  very  light,  if  the/  be  ufed 
at  all,  otherwife  they  load  the  fpine  of  the 
back,  and  render  the  (boulders  thick  and 
mufcular,  and  rather  impede  than  forward 
the  perpendicular  growth  of  the  perfon. 
The  ringing  of  a  real  bell  hung  as  is  done 
in  churches,  or  the  frequent  drawing  up 
of  a  weight  by  a  cord  over  a  pulley,  with  a 
fly-wheel. to  prevent  its  too  hafly  defcent, 
would  be  an  exercife,  which  might  be  ufed 
with  great  advantage  by  young  people  ;  as 
it  both  extends  the  fpine,  and  ftrengthens 
the  mufcles  of  the  cheft  and  arms. 

Many  other  kinds  of  exercife  have  been 
recommended  by  authors :  Madame  Gen- 
lis  advifes  weights  to  be  carried  on  the 
head,  as  milk-maids  carry  their  milk-pails  ; 


EXERCISE.  gg 

and  even  to  add  weights  to  the  folesof  the 
fhoes  of  children  to  ftrengthen,  as  fhe  fup- 
pofes,  the  mufcles  of  locomotion  in  walk 
ing  or  running.  It  is  evident,  that  carry 
ing  weights  on  the  head  muft  be  injurious 
to  young  people,  efpecially  when  there  is 
a  tendency  to  foftnefs  of  the  bones;  as  it 
may  contribute  to  bend  the  fpine  by  their 
preffure,  and  to  impede  the  perpendicular 
growth  of  the  body;  and  the  walking  in 
weighted  fhoes  may  induce  awkward  gef- 
tures  without  any  adequate  advantage. 

There  are  other  modes  of  exertion, 
which,  though  graceful' in  themfelves,  are 
not  allowed  to  ladies  by  the  fafliion  of  this 
age  and  country  ;  as  fkating  on  the  ice  in 
winter,  fwimming  in  fummer,  funambula- 
tion,  or  dancing  on  the  ftreight  rope  :  but 
walking  with  a  ftately  meafured  fiep  occa- 
fionally,  like  the  march  of  foldiers,  and 
reading  aloud  frequently  rather  in  a  thea 
tric  manner,  as  well  as  dancing  and  fmging, 


loo 


EXERCISE. 


will  much  contribute  to  give  flrength  and 
grace  to  the  mufcles  of  locomotion,  and  of 
vocality. 


SECTION  XXVI. 


AIR. 

JL  HE  ftrength  and  activity  of  young 
people  not  only  depends  on  the  perpetual 
exercife  of  their  limbs,  as  defcribed  in  the 
preceding  fedions,  but  on  the  purity  of  the 
air,  which  they  breathe,  and  even  on  the 
occafional  coldnefs  of  it.  The  cold  air  of 
winter  ads  on  delicate  people  like  a  cold 
bath;  as  it  diminifhes  the  adion  of  the  fub- 
cutaneous  veffels  for  a  time,  and  thus  pro 
duces  an  accumulation  of  animal  power, 
whence  an  increafed  adion  of  thofe  veffels 
and  a  confequent  warmth  of  the  furface  of 
the  body  fucceeds ;  and  by  this  lefs  expen 
diture  of  animal  power  during  immerfion 
in  cold  air,  and  its  confequent  accumula 
tion,  ihe  perfon  becomes  ftronger  for  a 
time  and  more  animated  ;  which  is  termed 


102  AIR. 

in  common  language,  ll  bracing  the  fyf- 
tern."  Hence  to  ftrengtheu  delicate  chil 
dren  they  fhould  be  encouraged  to  go  into 
the  cold  air  of  winter  frequently,  but  (hould 
not  remain  in  it  longer  than  a  quarter  or 
half  an  hour  at  a  time.  In  fummer  young 
people  can  fcarcely  continue  too  much  in 
the  air,  where  they  are  (haded  from  the 
heat  of  the  fun. 

A  conftant  imrnsrfion  in  pure  air  is. 
now  known  to  contribute  much  both  to 
the  health  of  the  fyftem,  and  to  the  beau 
tiful  colour  of  the  complexion.  And  this 
atrnofphere  {hould*  undergo  a  perpetual 
change  and  renovation  ;  that  the  vital  air, 
which  conftitutes  about  one-fourth  part  of 
it,  may  not  be  too  much  diminifhed  by 
frequent  refpiration.  D  ue attention  fhould 
be  given  to  this  important  -circumftance 
both  by  frequently  urging  the  young  la 
dies  to  am  ale  themfelves  out  of  doors  ; 
and  by  the  proper  ventilation  cf  the 
fchool-room, diiiing-room, bed-rooms,  and 


AIR.  1O3 

their  other  apartments.  For  this  purpofe 
It  is  convenient  to  faw  off  about  one  inch 
from  the  top  of  every  door  of  thefe  crowd 
ed  rooms,  and  oppofite  to  this  aperture  to 
nail  along  the  top  of  the  door  a  tin  plate 
about  two  inches  wide,  rifing  at  an  angle 
of  about  forty-five  degrees;  which  will 
bend  the  current  of  air  up  towards  the  ceil 
ing  ;  where  it  will  be  mixed  with  the 
warm  air  of  the  room,  and  fink  down  a- 
mongft  the  fociety  without  the  danger  of 
giving  cold  to  any  one  :  And,  befides 
thefe  door-ventilators,  the  upper  fairies  of 
every  window  fhould  always  be  let  down 
a  few  inches,  when  the  external  weather 
will  admit  of  it. 

In  refpetfl  to  bed  rooms,  which  have 
more  than  one  bed,  the  doors  (hould  be 
furnifhed  with  firnilar  ventilators  for  the 
due  admifficn  of  frefh  air  ;  and  during  the 
fummer-months  a  window  fhculd  be  kept 
a  few  inches  open  during  the  night  as  well 
as  the  day  ;  the  fafh  of  which  fhould  have 


AIR- 


a  bolt  or  other  proper  fattening  for  this 
purpofe  ;  nor  fhould  the  fire-place  be 
ilopt  up  at  any  feafon  by  a  chimney- 
board,  or  a  bag  of  flraw  ;  as  many  rooms 
are  made  to  {hut  up  fo  clofe,  that  this  is 
the  only  aperture,  by  which  frefti  air  is 
admitted.  To  this  ftiould  be  added,  that 
the  bed-curtains  fhould  never  be  drawn 
clofe  round  the  beds  ;  which  confine  the 
air  fpoiled  by  frequent,  refpiration,  and 
the  perfpirable  matter,  like  a  noxious  at- 
mofphere  over  the  unconfcious  fleepers. 
At  the  fame  time  none  of  the  beds  ftiould 
be  placed  very  near  either  to  an  open  win 
dow,  or  to  an  open  chimney,  as  a  partial 
current  of  air  might  be  injurious  by  the 
coldnefs  it  might  occafion. 

In  crowded  bed-rooms,  where  children 
are  clofe  ftiut  up  for  eight  or  nine  hours 
every  night,  not  only  the  pale  bloated 
complexion,  which  is  feen  in  children  of 
crowded  manufactories  ;  but  other  difeafes 
are  produced  by  the  impurity  of  the  air, 


AIR.  105 

iuch  as  indigeftion,  difficulty  of  breath 
ing,  and  fometimes  convulfive  fits,  as 
mentioned  in  Zoonomia,  vol.  II.  clafs.  iii- 
1.1.5.  an<^  laftly  putrid  fevers  ;  of  which 
fatal  inftances  frequently  occur  in  the 
crowded  habitations  of  the  poor.  Hence 
parents  cannot  be  too  careful  in  infpeding 
the  bed-rooms,  and  the  beds  of  the  fchools, 
to  which  they  entruft  their  children  ;  as 
not  only  their  prefent  comfort,  but  their 
future  health,  and  fometimes  their  lives 
depend  on  this  attention  ;  as  is  further 
explained  in  the  fedion  on  rheumatifm. 

Befides  the  due  ventilation  of  rooms 
by  a  perpetual  fupply  of  pure  air  in  fum- 
mer,  fomething  ftiould  be  here  faid  about 
the  manner  of  warming  them  in  winter. 
As  the  quantity  of  air  carried  up  a  chim 
ney  is  very  great,  owing  to  its  being  ren 
dered  fo  much  lighter  than  the  external 
atmofphereby  the  heat  of  the  fire,  ftrong 
currents  of  cold  air  prefs  into  the  room  at 
every  chink  of  the  doors  and  windows 
K 


Io6  AIR. 

palling  towards  the  fire  ;  and  are  liable  to 
give  catarrh,  iheumatifrn,  kibed  heels,  and 
{'welled  fingers,  to  thole  fcholars,  who  are 
expofed  to  them.  To  leffen  thefe  cur 
rents  of  cold  air  fetting  in  at  every  aper 
ture,  the  chimney  (hould  be  fo  contracted 
over  the  fire-grate,  as  to  admit  no  more  of 
the  warm  air  to  go  up  it,  than  is  neceffary 
to  carry  up  the  fmoke  ;  and  hence  much 
more  of  the  warm  air  near  the  fire-place 
will  rife  up  to  the  cieling  ;  and  defcend- 
ing,  as  it  becomes  cooler,  in  the  difiant 
parts  of  the  room,  will  form  a  kind  of  ver 
tical  eddy,  and  warm  the  whole  apart 
ment  ;  adding  greatly  to  the  heat  produ 
ced  by  the  radiation  from  the  fire. 

To  effed  this  Doctor  Franklin  recom 
mended  an  iron  or  tin  plate  to  flide  under 
the  mantle-piece  over  the  fire,  fo  as  to  con- 
trad  the  aperture  of  the  chimney  to  two  or 
three  inches  in  width,  all  the  length  over 
the  fire-grate.  And  lately  Count  Rumford 
has  accomplifhed  the  fame  purpofe  by  a 


AIR. 

flat  fione  about  twelve  inches  broad,  and 
eighteen  inches  high  ;  which  is  reared  up 
on  one  end  at  the  back  of  the  fire-place,  a- 
bout  eight  inches  above  the  grate,  and 
leans  forward  towards  the  mantle  piece,  fo 
as  to  leave  an  aperture,  three  or  four  inches 
wide,  and  twelve  or  fourteen  inches  long, 
over  the  front  of  the  fire-place.  The  ufj 
of  both  thefe  contrivances  is  to  contract 
the  mouth  of  the  chimney,  and  thus  to  ad 
mit  no  more  warm  air  up  it,  than  is  necef- 
fary  to  convey  the  fmoke.  Ani  the  Hid 
ing  iron  plate  in  Franklin's  plan,  and"  the 
end-reared  ftone  in  Ramford's  plan,  are 
deligned  to  be  occasionally  withdrawn  for 
the  admittance  of  the  chirrmey-fweeper. 
Thefe  are  defcribcd  in  detail  in  the  effays 
of  Dodor  Franklin,  and  Count  Rumfcrd  ; 
and  it  is  believed,  that  one-third  of  the 
fuel  may  be  thus  faved,  and  the  rooms  be 
kept  more  equally  warm,  and  more  falu- 
tary. 


SECTION  XXVII. 


CARE  OF  THE   SHAPE. 


JELICATE  young  ladies  are  very 
liable  to  become  awry  at  many  board 
ing  fchools,  this  is  occafioned  principal 
ly  by  their  being  obliged  too  long  to  pre- 
ferve  an  eredt  attitude,  by  fitting  on 
forms  for  many  hours  together.  To 
prevent  this,  the  fchool-feats  (hould  ei 
ther  have  backs,  on  which  they  may  oc- 
cafionally  reft  themfelves  ;  or  defies  be 
fore  them,  on  which  they  may  occafion- 
ally  lean.  This  is  a  thing  of  greater  con- 
fequence,  than  may  appear  to  thofe, 
who  have  not  attended  to  it;  and  who 
wifli  their  children  to  acquire  a  very 
ereft  attitude. 


CARE   OF  THE   SHAPE.  log 

When  the  leaft  tendency  to  become 
awry  is  obferved,  they  fliould  be  advif- 
ed  to  lie  down  on  a  bed  or  fofa  for  an 
hour  in  the  middle  of  the  day  for  many 
months  ;  which  generally  prevents  the 
increafc  of  this  deformity  by  taking  off 
for  a  time  the  preflure  of  the  head  and 
neck  and  (boulders  on  the  fpine  of  the 
back  ;  and  it  at  the  fame  time  tends  to 
make  them  grow  taller. 

Young  perfons,  when  nicely  meafur- 
ed,  are  found  to  be  half  an  inch  higher 
in  the  morning  than  at  night  ;  as  is  well 
known  to  thole,,  who  inliil  very  young 
men  for  fblcliers.  This  is  owing  to  the 
cartilages  between  the  bonescf  the  back 
becoming  comprefleJ  by  the  weight  of 
the  head  and  ihoulders  on  them  during 
the  clay.  It  is  the  fame  prefilire,  which 
producer  curvitures  and  distortions  of 
the  fpine  in  growing  children,  where 
the  bones  are  lifter  than  ufual  ;  and 
which  may  thus  be  relieved  by  an  hori- 
K2 


110  CARE  OF  THE  SHAPE. 

zontal  pofture  for  an  hour  in  the  middle 
of  the  day,  or  by  being  frequently  allow 
ed  to  lean  on  a  chair,  or  to  play  on  a 
carpet  on  the  ground* 

Young  ladies  fliould  alfo  be  d'rc£ted, 
where  two  fleep  in    a    bed,   to  change N 
every  night,  or  every  week,  their  fides 
of  the    bed  ;  which  will  prevent  their 
tendency  to  fleep  always  on  the  fame  fide; 
which  is  notonly  liable  to  produce  crook- 
ednefs,   but  alfo  to  occafion  difeafes   by 
the  internal  parts  being  fo  long  kept  in 
uniform  contact   as  to    grow  together. 
For  the  fame  reafon  they  fliould  not  be 
allowed  to  fit   always   on  the  fame   fide 
of  the  fire  or  window  :  becaufe  they  will 
then  be  inclined  too  frequently  to  bend 
towards  one  fide  ;  which  in  thofe  confti- 
tutions,  where  the  bones  are  too  foft,  is 
liable    to  produce   crooked nefs   of  the 
fpine. 


CARE  OF  THE   SHAPE.  Ill 

Another  great  caufe  of  injury  to  the 
lhape  of  young  ladies  is  from  the  preC- 
fure  of  flays,  or  other  tight  bandages  ; 
which  at  the  fame  time  caufe  other  dif- 
eafes  by  changing  the  form  or  fituation 
of  the  internal  parts.  If  a  hard  part  of 
the  (lays,  even  a  knot  of  the  thread,  with 
which  they  are  fewed  together,  is  preiF- 
ed  upon  one  fide  more  than  the  other  ; 
the  child  bends  from  the  fide,  which  is 
uneafy,  and  thus  occafions  a  curviture 
of  the  fpine.  To  counteract  this  eifeft 
fuch  ftays,  as  have  fewefl  hard  parts,  and 
efpecially  fueh  as  can  be  daily  or  week 
ly  turned,  are  preferable  to  others.  A 
wife  fafhion  of  wearing  no  (lift  ftays, 
which  adds  fo  much  to  the  beauty  of 
young  ladies,  has  commenced  fince  the 
above  was  written  ;  and  long  may  it 
continue  ! 

Where  frequently  lying   down   on  a 
fofa  in  the  day   time,   and  fwinging  fre- 


112  CARET  OF  THE   SHAPE. 

quently  for  a  fmall  time  by  the  head,  with 
loofe  drefs,  do  not  relieve  a  beginning  dif- 
tortion  of  the  back,  I  have  ufcd  with  fome 
fuccefs  a  fwing  for  children  to  fleep  in,  as 
defcribed  in  Zoonomia,  vol.  II.  clafs.  I 
2.  2.  16.  and  alfo  a  crutch-chair,  as  there 
delineated;  and  where  thefe  do  not  feemto 
fucceed,  recourfe  may  alfo  be  had  to  Monf. 
Vacher's  fpinal  machine,  firft  defcribed  in 
the  memoirs  of  the  academy  of  Surgery 
in  Paris,  vol.  III.  with  a  good  print  of  it ; 
and  fince  made  by  Mr.  Jones  in  London, 
at  No.  6,  North-ftreet,  Tottenham-court 
Road;  which  fufpends  the  head,  and  places. 
the  weight  of  it  on  the  hips. 

It  will  be  from  hence  eafily  perceived 
that  all  other  methods  of  confining  or  di- 
re6ling  the  growth  of  young  people  fhould 
be  ufed  with  great  (kill,  fuch  as  back 
boards,  or  bandages  ;  and  that  their  appli 
cation  fhould  not  be  continued  too  long  at 
a  time  ;  leaft  worfe  confequences  fhould 
enfue,  than  the  deformity  they  are  defign- 


CARE  OF  THE   SHAPE, 

ed  to  remove.  Of  thefe  the  flocks  for 
the  feet  of  children,  for  the  purpofe  of 
making  them  turn  their  toes  quite  out,  and 
the  frame  for  preffing  in  their  knees,  as  they 
ftand  ere$,  at  the  fame  time,  I  fufped, 
when  carried  to  excefs,  to  be  particularly 
injurious,  and  to  have  caufed  an  irrecover 
able  lamenefs  of  hip-joint ;  as  explained 
in  Zoonomia,  vol.  II.  clafs  I.  2.  2.  17. 
Thefe  therefore  fhould  be  ufed  with  pro 
per  caution,  fo  as  to  give  no  pain  or  un- 
eafy  feels,  or  not  ufed  at  alL 

To  this  it  may  be  proper  to  add,  that 
the  ftiff  ered  attitude,  taught  by  fome  mo 
dern  dancing  mailers,  does  not  contribute 
to  the  grace  of  perfon,  but  rather  militates 
againft  it;  as  is  well  feen  in  one  of  the 
prints  in  Hogarth's  analyiis  of  beauty  ;  arid 
is  exemplified  by  the  eafy  grace  of  fome 
of  the  ancient  ftatues,  as  of  the  Venus  de 
Medici,  and  the  Antinous  ;  and  in  the 
works  of  fome  modern  artifts,  as  in  a  beau 
tiful  print  of  Hebe  feeding  an  eagle, 


114  CARE  OF  THE   SHAPE. 

paineed  by  Hamilton,  and  engraved  by 
Eginton  ;  and  many  of  the  figures  of  An 
gelica  Kauffman.  And  laftly,  which  is  fo 
eminently  feen  in  many  of  the  beauties  of 
the  prefent  day,  fince  they 'have  left  off 
the  conftraint  of  whale-bone  flays,  and  af- 
fumed  the  graceful  drefs  of  the  ancient 
Grecian  ftatues, 

In  the  tendency  to  curviture  of  the 
fpine  whatever  ftrengthens  the  general 
conftitution  is  of  fervice,  as  the  ufe  of  the 
cold  bath  in  the  fummer  months.  This 
however  requires  fome  reftriction  both  in 
refpefl  to  the  degree  of  coldnefs  of  the 
bath,  the  time  of  continuing  in  it,  and  the 
feafon  of  the  year.  Common  fprings, 
which  are  of  48  degrees  of  heat,  are  too 
cold  for  tender  conftitutions,  whether  of 
children  or  adults;  and  frequently  do 
them  great  and  irreparable  injury,  as  I  have 
vvitnefled  in  three  or  four  cafes.  The 
coldnefs  of  river  water  in  the  fummer 


CARE   OF  THE  SHAPE.  1  15 

months,  which  is  about  65  degrees,  or  that 
of  Matlock,  which  is  about  68,  or  of  Bux- 
ton,  which  is  82,  are  much  to  be  prefer 
red  :  The  two  latter  are  improperly  called 
warm  baths,  comparing  their  degree  of 
heat  with  that  of  common  fprings  ;  where 
as  they  are  in  reality  cold  baths,  being  of 
much  lower  degree  of  heat  than  that  of  the 
human  body,  which  is  98.  The  time  of 
continuing  in  a  cold  bath  fhould  be  but  a 
few  minutes  ;  certainly  not  fo  long  as  to 
occafion  a  trembling  of  the  limbs  from 
cold.  In  refpecl  to  the  feafon  of  the  year, 
delicate  children  fhould  certainly  only  ufe 
cold  bathings  in  the  fummer  months ;  as 
the  going  frequently  into  the  cold  air  in 
winter  will  anfwer  all  the  purpofes  of  the 
cold  bath. 

Other  means  of  counteracting  the  de 
bility  of  the  fyftem,  or  foftnefs  of  bones, 
which  occafion  crooked nefs,  confift  in  tak 
ing  internally  from  lo  to  2o  grains  of  ex- 
trad  of  bark,  with  as  much  foda  phofpho- 


Il6  CARE  OF  THE   SHAPE. 

rata,  and  mixed  with  from  five  to  ten  drops 
-of  tindure  of  opium,  twice  a  day  for  three 
or  four  weeks  ;  as  is  further  treated  of  in 
Zooriotnia,  vol.  II.  clafs  I.  2.  2.  14. 
and  16. 


SECTION  XXVIII. 

DRESS* 

YOUNG  Ladies  fhould  be  inftrufl- 
ed  to  fhew  attention  to  their  drefs,  as  it 
gives  an  idea  of  cleanlinefs  of  their  per- 
fons ;  which  has  ib  great  a  charm,  that  it 
may  be  reckoned  amongft  the  inferior  vir 
tues  ;  for  this  purpofe  an  elegant  limplici- 
ty  of  drefs  is  to  be  recommended  in  pre 
ference  to  that  fuperabundance  of  orna 
ment,  where  the  lady  herfelf  is  the  leaft 
part  of  her.  The  form  cf  drefs  muftne- 
verthelefs  perpetually  vary  with  the  fafhion 
cf  the  time  ;  but  a  perfon  of  tafte  may 
leflen  thofe  parts  of  a  fafhionabie  drefs, 
which  oppofe  beauty  or  grace  ;  and  bring 
forwards  thofe,  which  are  more  coincident 
with  them  ;  fo  as  to  wear  a  drefs  in  fafhion, 
and  yet  not  devoid  of  tafte. 
L 


Il8  DRESS. 

Thus  when  large  hoops  were  in  gene 
ral  ufe,  which  fo  totally  militate  with  all 
ideas  of  beauty  and  grace  ;  ladies  of  tafte 
wore  them  as  fmall,  as  cuftom  would  al 
low.  So  in  refped  to  the  ear-rings  of  the 
prefent  day;  fince  piercing  the  tender 
part  of  the  ear  for  the  purpofe  of  fufpend- 
ing  a  weight  of  gold,  or  of  precious  ftones, 
or  of  glafs  beads  to  it,  reminds  us  of  the 
favage  ftate  of  mankind  ;  thofe  ladies  of 
tafte,  who  think  themfelves  obliged  to  com 
ply  with  this  indecorous  fafhion,  ufe  the 
lighted  materials,  as  a  chain  of  fmall  pearls, 
to  give  a  lefs  diftreffing  idea  of  the  pain, 
they  feem  to  fuffer  at  every  motion  of 
their  heads.  Hence  alfo  long  pendant 
and  complicated  ear-rings,  however  they 
may  add  to  the  d  ignity  of  riper  years  by  their 
coftlinefs,  are  unbecoming  to  young  ladies  ; 
as  they  feem  to  give  pain  in  the  quicker, 
tho'  more  graceful,  motions  of  juvenility. 

Sir  Tofhua  Reynolds,  I  think,  obferves 
in  one  of  his   addrefles  to  the  academy. 


DRESS.  119 

that  hard  curls  of  hair  ftiffened  with  the 
fat  of  hogs,  and  covered  with  the  tlower  of 
wheat,  cannot  be  admitted  into  pidure. 
The  fame  may  be  obferved  of  that  coat  of 
mail,  the  whale-bone  flays,  the  ufe  of 
which  is  now  fo  happily  difcontinued. 
Both  of  thefe,  however  they  may  conceal 
the  grey  hairs  and  waining  figures  of  thofe, 
who  are  advanced  in  life,  are  highly  inju 
rious  to  the  flowing  locks  and  graceful 
forms  of  young  ladies. 

As  beauty  confifts  of  lines  flowing  in 
eafy  curves  according  to  the  analyfis  of 
Hogarth;  thofe  parts  of  drefs,  which  are 
compofed  of  fuch  lines,  are  always  agreea 
ble.  Thus  a  fafli  defcending  from  one 
ftioulder  to  the  oppofite  hip,  or  a  grecian 
veil  thrown  back  and  winding  carelefsly 
down  behind,  are  always  beautiful ;  but  a 
few  white  oftrich  feathers  riling  on  the 
head  before,  and  a  train  of  filk  fweeping 
on  the  ground  behind,  add  fo  much  grace 
to  a  moving  female  figure,  as  to  attrad  all 
eyes  with  unceafing  admiration. 


1Q.O  DRESS. 

In  moving  forwards  the  hair  falls  back, 
and  in  very  fwift  motion  floats  upon  the 
air  behind  ;  hence  by  aflbciation  of  ideas, 
when  the  hair  is  made  to  retire  from  the 
cheeks,  it  gives  an  intimation  of  the  youth 
ful  agility  of  the  perfon ;  and  when  it  is 
brought  forwards  over  the  cheeks,  it  may 
confent  with  unmoving  dignity,  like  the 
full  wig  of  a  judge,  but  diminifhes  our  idea 
of  the  adivity  of  playful  youth. 

Where  the  appearance  of  ufe  in  drefs 
Can  be  given  to  ornaments,  it  fuggefts  an 
excufe  for  wearing  them,  and  is  therefore 
to  be  preferred;  as  diamond  pins,  firings 
of  pearl,  and  a  comb  of  fliell,  to  reftrain 
the  exuberant  hair  ;  or  knots  of  ribbons  to 
fix  the  flipper  on  the  foot,  to  contract  the 
lleeve  around  the  arm,  to  unite  the  veil  up 
on  the  bofom,  or  to  attach  the  cap  above 
the  forehead.  And  when  thefe  are  fimilar 
in  colour,  it  gives  an  air  of  fimplicity,  and 
a  kind  of  pyramidal  form  to  the  drefs  ; 
which  the  painters  fo  much  endeavour  to 


DRESS.  121 

exhibit  both  in  their  landicapes,  and  their 
groups  of  figures. 

Other  ornaments,  which  bear  no  analo 
gy  to  ufe  in  drefs,  ftiould  be  fparingly 
worn;  left  they  give  an  idea,  that  they 
were  defigned  to  difplay  the  pride  of  the 
poffeffor,  rather  than  to  decorate  her  per- 
fon.  Thefe  are  fometimes  feen  fo  ill 
placed  as  to  make  deformities  confpicuous, 
as  a  number  of  rings  on  fingers  diftorted 
with  the  gout,  orfplendid  buckles.on  turn- 
ed-in  feet.  Where  there  is  no  appear 
ance  of  ufe,  all  fliining  ornaments  fliould 
be  fo  difpofed  as  to  dired  the  eye  of  the  be 
holder  to  fome  beautiful  feature  of  the  la 
dy,  who  wears  them  ;  as  diamond  liars  in 
the  hair,  and  artificial  flowers  on  the 
bofom. 

Paint  and  perfumes  are  totally  inadmif- 

fible  in  the  drefs  of  young  ladies,   as  they 

give  a  fufpicion  of  natural  defeds  in  ref- 

peft  to  colour  of    the   (kin,.,  and   odour. 

L* 


122  DRESS. 

of  the    breath.     Where  there  exifls   but 
a    mediocrity    of    beauty,    and    youth    is 
in    the    wain,   a  variety   of   pretty    or    of 
coftly  ornaments  on  the  drefs,    and   even 
the  whitenefs  of  powder  in  the  hair,    may 
fometimes  mingle  with  our  idea  of  the  per- 
fon,  and  feem  to  render  the  whole  fairer, 
more  pleafing,  or  more  refpeciable.      But 
ornaments  of  every  kind  are  ufelefs  or  in 
jurious  to  youthful  beauty  ;    they  add  no 
power  to  the  charm,  but  rather  difenchant 
the  beholder  by  abftraciing  his  attention  ;. 
which  dwells  with  undiminifhed   rapture 
on  beauty  arrayed  by  fimplicity,   and  ani 
mated  without  affectation.      Thus  the  ma- 
j'eftic  juno  of  Homer  is  arrayed  in  variety 
of  ornament,   and  with   ear-rings,   which 
have  three  large  pendant  bobs  to  each,  and 
commands    nniverfal   homage.      But   his 
Queen  of  Beauty  is  dreffed  with  more  fim- 
ple  elegance,  in  her  magic  fafh,  or  ceftus, 
and  charms  all  eyes.. 

The  attention  to  tafte  in  drefs  may  ne- 
verthelefs  be  carried  into  an  extreme  ;  it 


DR.E3S.  I-2-? 

ihould  not  feem  to  be  the  mcft  important 
part  of  the  education  of  a  young  lady  ;  cr 
the  principal  objed  of  her  care  ;  (he  ftiould 
rather  appear  to  follow  than  to  lead  the  fa- 
ftiion,  according  to  the  lines  of  Mr.  Pope. 

Be  not  the  firft,  on  which  the-new  are  tried, 
Nor  yet  the  lad  to  lay  the  old  afide. 


SECTION  XXIX. 


AMUSEMENTS 


generally  diftinguiflied  from 
exercife,  as  they  relieve  or  exhilerate  the 
mind;  Cards  may  be  occafionally  ufed  by 
children  in  private  families,  without  their 
gaming  for  money  ;  and  will  in  general  fa 
cilitate  their  acquirement  of  arithmetic  ; 
but  cannot  be*  allowed  in  fchools,  left  the 
young  ladies  fhotild  expend  too  much  time 
upon  them,  or  fhould  play  for  money  clan- 
deftinely.  But  the  game  of  chefs,  from  its 
bearing  fo  great  analogy  to  common  life,  is 
fuppofed  much  to  improve  the  moft  ufeful 
powers  of  the  mind  :  It  has  the  experience 
of  the  rernoteft  antiquity  to  recommend  it, 
occafions  no  depraved  paffions,  as  it  is  not 
played  for  money;  and  by  the  caution  per 
petually  neceflary  to  watch  your  adverfary, 


AMUSEMENTS. 

and  the  judgment  required  to  contrive,  ar 
range,  and  manage  your  own  affairs,  em 
ploys  and  ftrengthens  every  part  of  the 
underftanding. 

Embroidery,  drawing,  mufic,  as  well 
as  the  exercifes  of  dancing,  Twinging,  play 
ing  at  ball,  and  fliuttlecock,  fliould  be 
claffed  amongH  the  amufemems  of  young 
ladies  ;  and  (hould  be  reciprocally  ap 
plied  to,  either  in  the  houfe  or  in  the 
open  air,  for  the  purpofe  of  relieving  each 
other ;  and  of  producing  by  fucb  means  an 
uninterrupted cheerfulnefscf  mind  ;  which 
is  the  principal  charm,  that  fits  us  for  fo- 
ciety,  and  the  great  fource  of  earthly  hap- 
pinefs. 


SECTION  XXX. 

PUNISHMENTS.        REWARDS.        MOTIVES. 

AT  is  the  cuftom  of  many  fchools  to 
life  fome  kinds  of  punifhments,  which 
either  give  pain  or  difgrace  to  the  delin 
quent,  as  a  fool's  cap,  or  a  meal  of  water 
gruel.  The  ufe  of  thefe  are  feldom  if 
ever  neceffary  in  fchools  for  young  ladies, 
and  are  always  attended  with  difagreeable 
confequences,  as  they  either  diminifh  the 
character  of  honour  in  the  punifhed  per- 
fons,  link  their  fpirits,  or  render  them  in- 
fenfible  to  the  opinions  of  others ;  or  in 
jure  their  health  :  Infomuch  that  at  fome 
fchools  all  that  can  be  acquired  can  fcarce- 
ly  compenfate  the  lofs  of  cheerfulnefs,  and 
degradation  of  mind,  or  bad  health,  which 
their  puniftiments  produce. 


PUNISHMENTS.   REWARDS.    MOTIVES. 

Thus  the  fitting  in  the  public  fchool 
for  an  hour  in  a  cap  with  bells  diminifhes 
the  fenfibility  of  a  child  to  the  opinions  of 
her  companions^  and  thus  gradually  de- 
ftroys  one  of  the  greateft  motives  to  good 
aftions,  and  of  the  greateft  reftraints  from 
bad  ones.  For  the  fame  reafon  'repri 
mands  and  even  admonitions  fliould  be  al 
ways  applied  in  private,  but  applaufe  or  re 
ward  in  public. 

A  meal  of  water  gruel,  given  as  a  pu- 
nifhment  inftead  of  a  meal  of  animal  food, 
fo  frequently  had  recourfe  to  in  fome 
boarding  fchools,  I  believe  to  have  laid 
the  foundation  of  incurable  debility.  The 
difeafes  of  debility,  as  fcrophula,  bronch- 
ocele,  foftnefs  of  bones,  and  the  confe- 
quent  diftortion  of  them,  are  very  com 
mon  among  the  children  of  the-poor  in 
Derby,  which  on  examination,  I  believe 
to  be  owing  to  their  food  confuting  chiefly 
of  gruel ;  or  fometimes  with  milk,  which 
has  been  twice  flurmned,  fo  that  it  is  total- 


I  28      PUNISHMENTS.   REWARDS.  MOTIVES. 

ly  deprived  of  its  moft  nourifhing  part  ;  at 
other  times  with  weak  fait  broth,  but  fel- 
dom  with  folid  animal  food.  When  broth 
is  weak  in  refped  to  the  quantity  of  flefh- 
meat  boiled  in  it,  it  is  the  ctiftom  of  cooks 
to  add  much  fait  to  it  to  increafe  the  relifh7 
which  renders  it  ftill  more  injurious  to 
weak  children  ;  as  fait  contains  no  nou- 
rifhrnent,  and  by  its  ftimulus  increafes  the 
action  of  the  fyftem  ;  and  by  promoting 
great  infenfible  or  fenfible  perfpiration  di- 
miniflies  the  ftrength  of  the  child  more, 
than  the  fmall  quantity  of  meat  diffolved 
in  the  broth  can  counteibalance. 

2.  How  then  are  refradory  children 
to  be  governed  ?  certainly  by  the  fuperi- 
ority  of  the  mind  of  the  teacher  over  that 
of  the  pupil.  When  a  famous  lady  in 
Italy  was  put  to  the  torture,  and  queftion- 
ed  by  what  forcery  (lie  had  governed  a 
princefs  of  the  family  of  Medici ;  flie  an- 
fwered  ct  by  no  forcery,  but  by  that  power, 
which  fuperior  minds  poflefs  over  inferi 
or  ones." 


PUNISHMENTS.  REWARDS.   MOTIVES. 

3.  Befides  the  two  circumftances, 
which  fo  much  govern  the  great  world,  I 
mean  hope  of  reward  and  fear  of  punifli- 
ment ;  in  the  microfcofm  of  a  boarding 
fchool  blame  and  praife,  if  given  very 
fparingly,  will  be  found  ftrong  motives  to 
the  little  pupils  to  perform  their  tafks  well, 
and  of  more  efficacy  ten  times,  than  the 
meal  of  water  gruel,  or  the  difgrace  of  a 
cap  and  bells.  Efleem  and  difgrace  are 
obferved  by  Mr,  Locke  to  be  of  all  others 
the  rnoft  powerful  incentives  to  the  mind, 
when  once  it  is  brought  to  regard  them  : 
And  if  once  you  can  communicate  to  chil 
dren  a  love  of  credit,  and  an  apprehenfion 
of  fliame,  you  have  inftilled  into  them  a 
principle,  which  will  conftantly  ad,  and 
incline  them  to  do  right,  tho'  it  is  not  the 
true  fource  from  whence  our  atftions  ought 
to  fpring  ;  which  ftiould  be  from  our  duty 
to  others  and  to  ourfelves. — See  Effay  on 
education,  feel.  56,  &c.  where  are  zaiany 
other  valuable  obfervations  on  this  fubjecfi. 


M 


PUNISHMENTS.   REWARDS.    MOTIVES, 

4.  Emulation   at  feeing  others   excel, 
if  properly  managed  is  another  incitement 
to  indufhy.     But  as  this   is  liable  to  de 
generate  into  envy,  it  iliould  rather  be  left 
to  its  own  operation,   than  be    promoted 
by  pointing  out  the  examples,  which  (hould 
be  copied.      It  is  better  to  fay,  "  your  taik 
is  not  done  to-day  fo  well  asyoufometimes 
do  it,"  than  to  fay,  "  your  tafk  is  not  done 
fo  well  as  your  fitter's."     Since  in  the  lat 
ter  cafe  envyvandits  coniequence  hatred, 
may  fucceed  ;    a   thing  of  tenfold  worfe 
confequence  than  the  negledl  of  a  thoufand 
talks. 

5.  Tho'  fome  degree  of  flattery  may 
be  ufed.  with  fuccefs  in  teaching  veracity 
to  very  young  children,   as  mentioned  in 
fetfL  18.  of  this  work,  yet  I  think  it  {hould 
be  ufed  very  rarely    indeed,  and  only  on 
very  important   occafions,    left    it  {hould 
become  a  neceffary  motive  of  a&ion,  inftead 
of  moral  duty ;    as  obferved  in  Zoonornia, 
vol.  II.  clafs  iii.  2.  i.  8.      "  The   debi- 


PUNISHMENTS.   REWARDS.    MOTIVES.      13! 

lity  of  the  exertion  of  voluntary  eiforts 
prevents  the  accomplifhment  of  all  the 
great  purpcfesof  life.  This  often  origi- 
n?\tes  from  a  miftaken  education  ;  in 
which  pleafure  or  vanity  is  made  the 
immediate  motive  of  action,  and  not  fu 
ture  advantage,  or  what  is  termed  duty. 
This  obfervation  is  of  great  value  to 
thofe,  who  attend  to  the  early  education 
of  their  own  children." 

"  I  have  feen  one  or  two  young  mar 
ried  ladies  of  fortune,  who  perpetually 
became  uneafy,  and  believed  themfelves 
ill,  a  week  after  their  arrival  in  the  coun 
try  ;  and  continued  fo  uniformly  during 
their  itay  ;  yet  on  their  return  to  Lon 
don  or  to  Bath  immediately  loft  all  their 
complaints  ;  and  this  I  obferved  to  hap 
pen  to  them  repeatedly.  All  which  I 
was  led  to  afcribe  to  their  being  in  their 
infancy  furrounded  with  menial  attend 
ants,  who  had  flattered  them  into  the 
exertions,  which  they  then  ufed.  And 


132     PUNISHMENTS.   REWARDS.   MOTIVES. 

that  in  their  mature  years  they  became 
torpid  for  the  want  of  this  ftimulus,  and 
could  not  amufe  themfelvcs  by  any  vol 
untary  employment,  but  required  ever 
after  to  be  flattered  into  aftivity  ;  or  to 
be  amufed  by  others/' 

6.  Rewards  have  been  given  to 
children  to  excite  their  indnflry  in  the 
performance  of  particular  tafks  ;  thefe 
are  certainly  lefs  eligible  motives  to  action 
than  the  fear  of  difgrace,  the  love  of  re 
putation,  and  above  all  the  obligations 
cf  duty.  Where  neverthelefs  thefe  are 
thought  proper,  the  kind  of  rewards  re 
quires  feme  attention  ;  which  ftiould 
confift  of  books,  or  maps,  or  boxes  of 
colours,  or  needle  cafes  :  but  not  erf  mo 
ney,  or  of  trinkets  for  ornamental  drefs, 
or  of  a  glafs  of  wine.  Where  money  is 
given  as  a  reward  for  indnftry  in  chil 
dren,  it  may  feem  to  them  to  be  the  pro 
per  motive  of  their  actions  inftead  of  re 
putation  or  of  duty  5-  and  may  thus  in- 


PUNISHMENTS.   REWARDS.    MOTIVES.      133 

cluce  the  vice  of  avarice  or  of  extrava 
gance.  Where  a  fine  cap  or  gown  is 
given  as  a  reward  of  diligence,  the  pride 
of  drefs  may  be  produced,  and  become 
their  great  motive  of  action,  infiead  of 
the  love  of  reputation,  or  of  duty.  And 
laftlyr  where  a  glafs  of  wine  is  given  as  a 
reward  for  induftry,  a  child  is  taught  to 
believe  wine  to  be  a  mod  valuable  ac- 
quifition,  and  a  perpetual  defire  of  it 
even  to  intoxication  may  be  the  con- 
fequence,  I  remember  a  wealthy  farm 
er,  who  had  two  drunken  ions,  tho7  he 
wa^  a  fober  man  himfelf,  who  told  me, 
that  he  afcribed  this  great  misfortune 
to  his  having-occafionally  given  them  in 
their  early  life  a  cup  of  a!e  as  a  reward 
for  their  exertions, — See  Locke  on  edu 
cation,  feft,  52,  Sec. 

j.  A  very  accurate  obferver,  who 
has  long  had  the  conduct  of  fchools  of 
various  kinds  for  the  inftru£tion  of  the 
youth  of  both  fexes,  acquaints  me,  "That. 

Ma 


134      PUNISHMENTS.   REWARDS.   MOTIVES- 

he  has  often  with  extreme  furprize  ob- 
ferved  a  child  make  a  greater  progrefs 
in  fome  one  branch  of  education  in  three 
months,  than  another  of  fimilar  age,  oppor 
tunity,  capacity,  and  even  apparently  of 
equal  application,  has  been  able  to  effe6l 
in  three  years."  The  fame  observation 
has  been  made  by  others,  but  he  adds, 
"  That  this  might  probably  arife  from 
fome  trivial  circumflance,  which  deter 
mined  the  inclination  of  the  fortunate  flu- 
dent  ;  and  that  it  is  poilible,  that  the  means 
may  fometime  be  difcovered  of  governing 
thefe  incident?,  and  thus  producing  a  new 
era  in  the  art  of  education  !." 

Similar  to  this  it  has  often  been  obferv- 
ed,  that  the  firft  impreffions  made  on  our 
infant  minds  by  accidental  difguft,  admi 
ration,  or  flattery,  are  the  frequent  caufes 
of  our  antipathies  or  averfions,  and  con 
tinue  through  life  to*  bias  our  aifedions  or 
miflead  our  judgments.  One  of  my  ac 
quaintance  can  trace  the  origin  of  many 
of  his  own  energies  of  aftion  from  fome 


PUNISHMENTS.   REWARDS.    MOTIVES.          135 

fuch  remote  fources ;  which  juftifies  the 
obfervation  of  M.  RouiTeau,  that  the  feeds 
of  future  virtues  or  vices  are  oftener  fowa 
by  the  mother  than  by  the  tutor- 


SECTION  XXXI. 


LISPING. 


JLlSPING  is  a  defect  of  pronuncia 
tion  occafioned  by  children's  making  ufe 
of  the  found  of  the  letter  TH  fibilant  in- 
ftead  of  the  letter  S  ;  as  inftead  of  u  is  it 
fo,"  they  fay  "  ith  it  tho."  To  break  this 
habit  they  mud  be  taught  to  pronounce  the 
S,  by  putting  the  point  of  the  tongue 
againft  the  roots  of  the  upper  teeth  ;  and 
not  to  put  it  between  their  teeth  as  in  pro 
nouncing  the  TH.  This  is  eafily  accom- 
plifhed  by  putting  their  own  finger  againft 
the  point  of  the  tongue,  as  it  comes  be 
tween  their  teeth,  in  attempting  to  pro 
nounce  the  letter  S,  and  pufhing  it  back 
into  the  mouth. 

I  once  faw  a  young  lady,  who  after  (lie 
had  left  fchool,  had  the  habit  of  ufmg  oc- 


LISPING.  137 

cafionally,  tho'  not  conftantly,  the  gutteral 
CH  infread  of  the  letter  S,  which  was  un 
commonly  difagreeahle  to  Englifh  ears. 
She  corrected  this  ill  habit  by  being  taught, 
as  above,  how  to  place  the  tongue  in  pro 
nouncing  the  S,  but  not  without  many 
trials  and  much  attention  for  fome  weeks  ; 
as  great  efforts  and  pertinacious  induflry 
are  required  to  break  any  habit,  which  has 
been  longeftablifhed. 

Many  children  from  the  difficulty  of 
fpeaking  it  are  liable  to  a  defective  pronun 
ciation  of  the  letter  R;  this  is  indeed  al- 
moft  general  in  fome  parts  of  Northumber 
land,  and  is  faid  to  be  a  found  unknown 
in  China  ;  which  obliged  the  catholic  mif- 
fionaries  fent  thither  by  Louis  the  14th  to 
change  the  name  of  the  virgin  Mary,  from 
Maria  into  Malia,  or  from  Mary  into  Mal- 
ly.  In  fpeaking  the  letter  R  the  middle  of 
the  tongue  is  made  to  vibrate  with  femivo- 
cal  air  ;  whereas  in  pronouncing  L,  the 
edges  of  the  tongue  only  vibrate  ;  the 


138  LISPING. 

Northumberland  vernacular  R  is  formed 
with  fibilant  air  initead  of  femivocal  air, 
or  differs  from  the  true  R,  as  Sj  differs  from 
Z.  Both  which  fhould  be  explained  to 
thofe  children,  who  have  this  imperfect 
pronunciation. 

Among  the  lower  orders  of  the  people 
of  London,  who  are  called  Cockneys,  the 
letter  W  is  pronounced  fibilant  like  the 
German  W,  and  not  femivocal  like  our 
vernacular  one;  this  feems  to  refemble  the 
found  of  V  to  inattentive  ears ;  and  thefe 
Cockneys,  are  thence  fuppofed  to  ufe  V 
infleadof  W,  as  Vomen  and  Vine,  inftead 
of  Women  and  Wine.  This  defed  is  rea 
dily  conquered  by  teaching  fuch  children 
to  give  more  vocal  found  to  their  W,  by 
founding  it  at  fir  ft  like  OO. 


SECTION  XXXIL 

STAMMERING. 

JL  HIS  impediment  of  fpeech  has  ge 
nerally  for  its  remote  caufe  a  too  great  dif 
fidence,  or  baflifulnefs,  joined  with  an  am- 
bitionof  Chining  in  converfation ;  andforits 
immediate  caufe  an  interruption  of  the  affo- 
ciationof  the  initial  letter  of  a  word  with  the 
remainder  of  it.  Which  affociation  is  dif- 
fevered  by  the  ill-introduced  fenfation  of 
awe,  bafhfulnefs,  defire  of  fliining,  or  fear 
of  not  fucceeding  ;  and  then  violent  vo 
luntary  efforts  are  in  vain  employed  to  re 
join  the  broken  affociation,  and  give  rife 
to  various  diftortions  of  countenance,  as 
explained  in  Zoonomia,  vol.  II.  clafs  iv. 
2.  3.  1. 

That  this  impediment  of  pronuncia 
tion  is  altogether  a  difeafe  of  the  mind,  and 


14°  ,  STAMMERING. 

not  of  the  organs  of  fpeech,  is  {hewn  by 
the  Hammerer  being  able  to  fpeak  all  words 
with  perfed  facility,  when  alone,  as  in  re 
peating  a  play  ;  but  begins  to  hefitate,  if 
any  one  approaches ;  or  even  if  he  ima 
gines,  that  he  is  liftened  to.  Thofe  words 
alfo  are  moil  difficult  to  him  to  pronounce, 
which  he  is  confcious,  he  cannot  change 
for  ethers,  as  when  he  is  aiked  his  own 
name,  or  the  names  of  orher  perfons,  or  of 
places ;  and  the  more  fo  if  he  is  aware, 
that  the  hearer  is  impatient  to  be  inform 
ed,  and  that  he  cannot  conjevfiure  the 
name,  before  it  is  fpoken. 

It  requires  great  attention,  and  much 
time  to  overcome  this  bad  habit ;  they 
ihould  be  daily  exercifed  in  fpeaking  fin- 
gle  words  as  in  fpelling  ;  and  when  they 
hefitate  or  find  difficulty  in  announcing 
the  beginning  of  a  word,  they  ftiould  re 
peat  it  frequently  aloud  without  the  initial 
letter,  and  at  length  repeat  it  with  the  ini 
tial  letter  in  a  fofter  tone. 


STAMMERING. 


Suppofe  the  ftammerer  finds  difficulty 
in  fpeakingthe  word  "  Paper,"  and  fays  p, 
p,  p,  p,  repeatedly,  but  cannot  join  the  a 
after  it.  He  muft  be  taught  to  pronounce 
aper,  aper,  aper,  without  the  initial  p,  for 
many  fucceffive  times  ;  and  this  aper  ftiould 
be  fpoken  aloud  with  more  breath  than 
common,  as  if  an  h  preceded  it;  and  at 
length  he  fhould  add  in  a  fofter  tone  the 
letter  p  to  it. 

This,  together  with  an  hourly  atten 
tion  to  fpeaking  and  reading  flowly,  and 
practifing  in  this  manner  every  word, 
which  is  not  readily  fpoken,  both  in  pri 
vate  and  in  company,  I  am  informed  is  the 
principle,  on  which  thofe  matters  cure 
this  impediment,  who  make  it  a  profeffion; 
and  to  this  (hould  be  added  a  frequent  in 
troduction  to  the  fociety  of  ftrangers,  in 
order  to  acquire  lefs  agitation  or  anxiety 
about  the  opinions  of  others. 


N 


SECTION  XXXIII. 

SQUINTING. 

JL  HIS  defed  of  vifion,  which  is  term 
ed  ftrabifmns,  may  frequently  be  con 
quered  in  children,  if  it  be  attended  to 
early,  before  it  has  been  long  efiablifhed 
by  habit.  In  this  deformity  it  generally 
happen?,  that  one  eye  is  better  than  the 
other,  which  induces  the  child  to  view  ob 
jects  with  the  beft  eye,  and  to  hide  the 
center  of  the  nofe.  This  greater  irritabi 
lity  of  one  eye  is  often  occaiioned,  I  fuf- 
ped,  in  infancy,  by  tying  a  bandage  for 
too  long  a  time  over  an  eye,  which  has 
happened  to  be  (lightly  inflamed,  and 
thus  decreafing  its  power  of  adion  by  dif- 
ufe  ;  in  the  fame  mannei:  the  large  mufcles 
of  the  body  become  weakened  by  long  in- 
adion ;  and  the  right  arm  is  generally 


SQUINTING.  143 

ftronger  than  the  left  from  its  having  been 
more  frequently  exercifed. 

In  this  cafe  if  the  bed  eye  be  for  on 
hour  or  two,  or  longer,  covered  every  day 
with  gauze  ftretched  upon  a  circular  piece 
of  whale-bone,  fo  as  to  render  the  vifi^n 
of  this  eye  as  indiftinft  as  that  of  the  other, 
the  child  will  naturally  turn  them  both  to 
the  fame  objed,  and  in  a  little  time  the 
weak  eye  will  become  itronger  by  being 
ufed,  or  the  ftrong  one  weaker  by  difule, 
and  the  child  will  ceafe  to  fquint. 


Another  kind  of  fquinting  is  owing  Jn- 
tirely  to  a  bad  habit,  and  conlifts  in  look 
ing  at  objects  with  one  eye  only  at  a  time. 
The  owl  bends  both  his  eyes  upon  the  ob- 
jed,  which  he  obferves  ;  and  by  thus  perpe 
tually  turning  his  head  to  the  thing  he  in- 
fpeds, appears  tohavegreaterattention  to  it; 
and  has  thence  acquired  the  name  of  the 
bird  of  wifdorn.  All  other  birds,  I  believe, 
look  at  objeds  with  one  eye  only*  but  it  is 


SQUINTING. 

with  the  eye  neareft  the  object  attended  to; 
whereas  in  this  kind  of  ftrabifmns  the  pe.r- 
fon  attends  to  objecls  with  the  moft  diftant 
eye  only.  This  habit  has  probably  been 
produced,  by  a  cap  worn  in  infancy,  which 
projeded  forward  beyond  the  head  on  each 
lide,  like  the  bluffs  of  a  coach-horfe,  io  as 
to  make  it  eafier  for  the  child,  as  he  lay  in 
his  cradle,  to  view  oblique  objeds  with 
the  eye  moft  diftant  from  them;  which 
kind  of  cap  is  therefore  to  be  avoided. 

A  curious  cafe  of  this  ill  habit  of  vifion 
is  related  in  the  Philof.  Tranfaft.  vol.  68. 
by  Dr.  Darwin ;  which  was  relieved  by  fix 
ing  a  parchment  gnomon  on  the  nofe  of 
the  little  boy,  which  projected  about  an 
inch  from  the  ridge  of  it,  and  caufed  him 
for  a  time  to  view  oblique  objetfs  with  that 
eye,  which  was  neareft  them. 


SECTION  XXXIV. 


INVOLUNTARY    MOTIONS 


OY  confinement  in  a  fchool-room 
for  many  fucceffive  hours,  and  that  with 
out  being  fuffered  to  vary  their  poflure, 
fome  of  the  more  a£tive  and  lively  chil 
dren  are  liable  to  gain  tricks  of  involun 
tary  actions,  as  twitchings  of  the  face,, 
refllefs  gefticulations  of  the  limbs,  biting 
their  nails,  &c.  which  are  generally  at 
firft  occafioned  by  the  want  of  fufficient 
bodily  exercife  to  expend  the  fuperfluous 
animal  power,  like  the  jumping  of  a 
fquirrel  in  a  cage  ;  but  are  alio  liable  to 
be  caught  by  imitation  of  each,  other., 

To  prevent  this  kind   of  deformity 
children   fhould   be   fuffered    to    change 
their  attitudes   and  fituations  more  fre- 
N2 


146  INVOLUNTARY    MOTIONS. 

quently ;  or  to  walk  about,  as  they  get 
their  leflbns.  To  counteract  it  the  ear- 
lieft  attention  is  neceffary  ;  as  a  few  weeks 
frequently  eftablifli  a  bad  habit,  which 
cannot  be  removed  without  great  diffi 
culty  :  This  however  may  be  effe&ed 
early  in  the  difeafe  by  a  bandage  nicely 
applied  on  the  moving  mufcles,  or  by 
adhefive  plafters  put  tightly  over  them  ; 
or  by  an  iflue  placed  over  them,  fo  as  to 
give  a  little  pain,  when  the  mufcles  are 
thrown  into  aftion  under  it. 


SECTION  XXXV. 


SWELLED    FINGERS, 


JD  kibed  heels,  are  inflammations 
liable  to  affect  tender  children  in  many 
fchools  during  the  winter  months.  The 
latter  of  thefe  complaints  is  generally  ow 
ing  to  the  coldnefs  or  a  brick  or  plafter 
floor  to  their  feet,  or  to  their  fitting  in  un 
changed  (hoes  and  ftockings,  after  walk 
ing  in  the  wet ;  and  the  former  to  their 
being  kept  too  long  from  the  fire  in  the 
cold  parts  of  the  fchooi-room  without 
gloves. 

Nothing  prevents  or  cures  thefe  mala 
dies  but  a  due  attention  to  keep  the  ex 
tremities  of  delicate  children  warm,  either 
by  clothing,  exercife,  or  fire.  The  in 
flammation  of  the  heels  or  toes  may  be 


148  SWELLED    FINGERS. 

fometimesremoved  by  covering  them  with 
a  double  linen  rag  moiftened  in  a  fatur- 
nine  foliation  made  by  diffolving  half  an 
ounce  of  fugar  of  lead  in  half  a  pint  of 
water,  to  be  renewed  morning  and  night. 
As  the  fuelling  of  the  fingers  thus  pro 
duced  is  liable  to  continue,  and  to  injure 
the  fhape  of  them,  it  becomes  of  greater 
importance  ;  but  may  in  fome  meafure  be 
afterwards  diminished  or  removed  by  the 
frequent  application  of  vitriolic  Ether  to 


The  fkin  of  the  lips,  and  of  the  hands 
and  arms  of  children  is  liable  to  become 
inflamed,  and  chopped,  or  rough,  in  frofty 
weather,  owing  both  to  the  coldnefs  and 
drynefs  of  the  air.  The  former  is  re 
lieved  by  the  application  of  a  lip-falve 
made  by  mixing  minium  or  red  leid  with 
fpermaceti  and  oil  to  a  proper  confijance; 
or  by  blue  mercurial  ointment.  The  lat 
ter  by  wearing  leathern  gloves,  the  infide 
of  which  is  fmeared  with  fpermaceii  foft- 


SWELLED-  FINGERS. 

ened  with  a  little  oil,  or  with  pomatum  ; 
gloves  thus  prepared  prevent  too  great  ex 
halation  from  the  fkin  in  frofly  air,  and 
the  confequent  too  great  drynefs  and  rough- 
nefs  of  it; 


SECTION    XXXVI. 

BEDS. 

JL  HE  rheumatifm,  and  other  inflam 
matory  difeafes,  are  frequently  occa- 
fioned  in  crowded  fchools  by  placing 
fome  of  the  beds  with  one  fide  againft  a 
wail ;  where  the  weaker  child  confined 
by  a  ftronger  bedfellow  is  liable  to  lie 
for  hours  together  with  fome  part  of  it 
in  contact  with  the  cold  wall  ;  which 
in  the  winter  months  has  often  been  at 
tended  with  fatal  confequences  ;  and 
efpecially  in  thofe  boarding  fchools, 
where  the  beds  are  fmall,  and  but  one 
blanket  allowed  to  each  of  them,  and  a 
fcanty  feather-bed. 

We  are  indued  with  a  very  accurate 
fenfe  to  diftinguifli  heat  and  cold,  which 


BEDS. 

fhould  be  nicely  attended  to  ;  as  the  ex 
tremes  of  both  of  them  are  injurious 
to  health,  and  more  Co  in  our  fleeping 
than  in  our  waking  hours.  The  extreme 
of  heat  is  not  much  experienced  in  this 
climate,  except  when  it  is  artificially 
produced  ;  but  that  of  cold  is  the  cauie 
of  numerous  difeafes  of  the  moft  fatal 
tendency,  A  fevere  continued  froft  may 
may  be  borne  by  the  ftrong,  who  can 
keep  themfelves  warm  by  their  activity, 
but  is  deflruftive  to  the  weak  and  feden- 
tary.  In  the  year  1795  the  weather  in 
January,  and  in  one  week  of  February 
was  uncommonly  fevere  ;  the  fame  five 
weeks  in  January  and  February  1796 
were  uncommonly  mild  ;  and  it  appears 
by  the  bills  of  mortality  in  London,  that 
2823  people  died  in  theft  five  weeks  of 
froft  in  1795  ;  and  that  only  1471  died 
in  the  fame  five  weeks  of  mild  weather 
in  1796,  which  is  not  much  more  than 
half  the  number. — See  a  paper  by  Dr. 
Heberden  in  Philof.  Tranfaft.  for  the 
year  1796. 


152  BEDS. 

Some  mifin formed  parents  have  con 
ceived,  that  a  hard  bed  contributes  to 
harden  their  children  in  refpe£t  to  their 
bearing  cold,  and  have  on  that  account 
laid  them  on  itraw-mattrefies,  or  on  beds 
with  boarded  bottoms.  The  only  dif 
ference  between  lying  on  a  foft  or  hard 
bed  confifts  in  this  ;  the  weight  of  the 
body  in  the  former  cafe  preffes  on  a 
larger  furface,  and  in  the  latter  on  a  lefs; 
neither  of  which  has  any  reference  to 
the  habits  of  tendernefs  or  hardinels  in 
refpeft  to  cold  and  heat;  unlefs  indeed 
a  feather-bed  is  fo  foft,  that,  as  the  child 
finks  down  in  the  middle  of  it,  the  rifmg 
edges  bend  over  him,  and  in  part  cover 
him.  Perhaps  beds  made  of  foft  leather 
properly  prepared,  and  inflated  with 
air,  as  the  Emperor  of  Germany  wasfaid 
to  ule  in  camp,  might  be  preferable  on 
this  account  to  feather-beds. 

The  beds  for  young  children  cannot 
therefore  be  tooibft,  however  they  may 


BEDS.  153 

contribute  to  the  indolence  of  grown 
people  provided  they  do  not  keep  them 
too  warm  by  bending  over  them  as  a- 
bove  defcribed.  But  the.too  great  hard- 
nefs  of  beds  is,  I  believe,  frequently  inju 
rious  to  the  fliape  of  infants  by  occafion- 
ing  them  to  reft  on  too  few  parts  at  a 
time;  which  hardens  thole  parts  by  pref- 
fure,  and  prevents  their  proportionate 
growth .  It  alfo  occafions  their  fleep  to  be 
lefs  found  by  the  uneafinefs  it  caufes,  and 
in  confequence  lefs  refrefhing. 

The  feet  and  knees  and  hands  of 
weaker  children  are  liable  to  become 
cold  in  bed  in  winter,  on  which  account 
it  is  more  falutary  for  them  to  fleep 
with  abed-fellow,  rather  than  alone; 
as  they  then  naturally  put  their  cold 
knees  or  hands  to  their  companion  in 
bed,  and  thus  frequently  prevent  rheu 
matic,  and  other  inflammatory  difeafes 
of  fatal  event.  For  the  fame  reafon  it 
is  better  for  a  new  born  infant  to  fleep 
O 


!54  BEDS. 

with  its  mother  in  winter,  or  with  a 
young  nurfe,  than  in  a  folitary  crib  by 
her  bed-fide;  unlefsthe  artificial  warmth 
of  the  room  be. more  nicely  graduated, 
than  is  Commonly  done.. 

For  the  fame  resfon,  where  children 
are  too  feeble  from  illnefs,  a  fire  fhould 
be  allowed  in  their  bed-chamber  in  cold 
weather  ;  as  the  cold  air  is  otherwifc 
injurious  to  their  lungs,  which  cannot  be 
clothed  fo  as  to  prevent  the  contact  of 
of  the  air,  like  the  other  parts  of  the  bo 
dy  ;  a  fire  contributes  alfo  to  ventilate 
a  room,  and  to  circulate  the  air  in  it, 
and  thence  to  render  it  more  falutary  ; 
but  it  fhould  not  warm  it  to  more  than 
60  or  65  degrees,  that  its  temperature 
may  not  differ  too  much  from  that  of  the 
external  atmofphere  ;  as  thofe,  who  are 
kept  generally  too  warm,  are  liable  to 
take  cold,  at  every  blail  of  air,  not  from 
the  degree  of  cold,  to  which  they  hap- 


BEDS.  155 

pen  to  be  expofed,  but  to  its  difference 
from  that,  whiqli  they  have  been  ac- 
cuftomed  to. — See  fed.  xxvi. 

The  univerfal  analogy  derived  from 
other  animals,  which  produce  a  feeble 
offspring,  evinces  the  truth  of  this  doc 
trine,  both  in  refpect  to  the  foftnefs,  and 
the  due  degree  of  warmth  of  their  beds  : 
Birds  line  the  neits  for  their  young  with' 
feathers  ;  the  eider  duck,  and  the  rabbit, 
pluck  the  down  from  their  own  breads 
to  increafe  the  foftnefs  of  the  beds  for 
their  tender  offspring  ;  and  brood  them 
with  their  wings,  or  clafp  them  to  their 
boforhs  for  the  fake  of  warmth. 

The  number  of  hours  required  for 
falutary  fieep  is  greater  for  younger  chil 
dren,  than  for  thofe  more  advanced  ;  as 
during  our  progrefs  through  life  we  ac 
quire  greater  facility  in  ufmg  our  volun 
tary  power,  and  recruit  it  in  lefs  time 
when  exhausted.  The  younger  claffcs 


BEDS. 


of  fcholars  may  go  to  reft  at  {even,  or 
eight ;  but  the  elder  fnoulcl  be  allowed 
another  hour  for  the  purpofes  of  reading 
or  other  kinds  of  improvement  ;  the 
hour  of  rifing  muft  vary  with  the  feafon. 


SECTION    XXXVII. 


DIET. 


JLK  is  the  food  defigned  by  na 
ture  for  young  animals,  and  fhould  be  gi 
ven  them  in  its  recent  Hate.  .As  the 
cream  is  the  moft  nourifhing  part  of  the 
milk,  and  is  ealier  of  digeftion  than  the 
coagulable  or  cheefy  part  ;  and  as  milk 
conftitutes  a  principal  portion  of  the  ali 
ment  of  children;  to  take  off  the  cream 
once,  or  even  twice,  as  is  pradlifed  in  fome 
boarding  fchools,  before  it  is  given  to  the 
children,  is  a  fhameful  circtimflance  of 
parfimony,  and  very  injurious  to  their 
healths. — See  fed.  xxx,  on  punifliments... 

Nor  fhould  the  milk  given  to  children 
be  long  kept  in  a  boiling  heat  ;    becaufe 
much  of  its  fragrant  oil  is  then  evaporated,, 
O2 


158  DIET. 

as  is  evident  from  the  fine  odour  of  the 
fleam  of  it,  when  taken  from  the  fire  ;  and 
its  further  deterioration  from  long  boiling 
is  {hewn  by  its  then  inducing  conftipation, 
which  is  contrary  to  its  effect  in  its  recent 
and  natural  ftate. 

Neverthelefs  even  new  milk  does  not 
always  agree  with  children,  after  they  have 
paiFed  the  years  of  infancy.  For  milk  ta 
ken  into  the  ftomach  muft  be  always  pre- 
vioufly  curdled  or  coagulated,  before  it 
can  be  digefted,  or  converted  into  nou- 
rifhment :  Hence  milk  is  always  found 
curdled  in  the  flomachs  of  calves,  and  the 
acid  juice  of  their  ftomachs.  is  ufed  to  co 
agulate  their  milk  in  the  procefs  of  cheefe- 
making  :  Now  the  flomachs  of  young  chil 
dren  abound  mere  with  this  acid  juice  than 
in  their  riper  years,  and  when  a  fufficient 
quantity  of  it  is  not  produced  for  the  pur- 
pofe  of  curdling  tha  milk,  which  they 
drink,  it  is  liable  to  difagree. 


DIET. 

To  thefe  few  therefore,  vvhofe  ilo- 
machs  do  not  eafily  digeil  the  coagulable 
part  of  milk,  other  fluid  foodfliouid  be  al 
lowed  to  breakfaft,  as  gruel,  or  tea  with 
cream  and  fugar  in  it,  and  with  bread  and 
butter  ;  and  to  iupper,  a  ilice  of  cold  meat, 
or  of  cheefe,  or  tart,  or  bread  and  butter, 
with  fmail  beer  or  water  for  drink  ;  but  it 
is  probable,  that  milk  might  be  made  to 
agree  with  all  ftomachs,  if  it  was  previous 
ly  curdled  by  rennet,  as  I  have  often  re 
commended  with  fuccefs  to  elderly  per- 
fons;  or  by  letting  it  ftand,  till  it  becomes 
fpontaneoufly  four  like  buttermilk,  as  is 
the  cuftom  of  the  inferior  people  of  Scot 
land  ;  except  neverthelefs  where  the  dif~ 
tafle  of  the  child  is  owing  to  prejudice  or 
caprice,  which  is  then  incurable  but  by 
time. 

For  dinner  animal  food  plain  drefled, 
with  vegetables  or  bread,  and  pudding  of 
wheat  flour,  milk,  and  eggs,  with  fugar  or 
butter,  are  more  nourithing  than  vegetable 


l6o  DIET. 

fuftenance  alone.  Wheat  flour  contains 
more  nutriment  than  that  of  rice,  or  bar 
ley,  or  oats  ;  as  it  poffeffes  more  ftarcli  in 
proportion  to  its  bulk,  and  a  gluten  ap 
proaching  to  animal  matter.  But  much 
fait  or  fpice  fhould  not  be  allowed  in  the 
diet  of  children,  as  they  are  certainly  un- 
wholefome  by  inducing  a  weaknefs  of  the 
capillary  and  a-bforbent  fyflems  of  vefTels 
in  confequence  of  their  too  great  ftimulus, 
and  contain  no  nourifhmenu 

As  butter  and  fugar  are  perhaps  the 
moft  nutritive  of  animal  and  vegetable 
fubflances,  they  may  be  more  eafily  taken 
to  excefs ;  on  which  account  fome  miflaken 
parents  have  totally  prohibited  the  ufe  of 
them ;  which  is  a  great  difadvantage  to 
weaker  children,  who  require  more  nutri 
tive  diet  in  lefs  bulk  than  ftronger  ones. 

For  the  drink  of  the  more  robuft  chil 
dren  water  is  preferable,  and  for  the  weak 
er  ones,  fmall  beer  ;  but  in  this,  as  well  as 


DIET.  l6l 

in  the  choice  of  folid  food,  their  palates 
Ihould  be  confulted  ;  for  the  nice  difcern- 
ment  of  this  fenfe  is  beftowed  on  us  by  na 
ture  to  diftinguifli,  vvhat  the  ftomach  can 
beft  digeft.  It  fhould  however  be  obferv- 
ed,  that  in  artificial  viands  the  tafte  cannot 
diftinguifh,  what  is  unwholefome  ;  as  fugar 
may  be  mixed  with  arfenic.  So  in  the 
drinking  of  fermented  liquors,  as  ale  or 
wine,  which  arc  chemical  productions,  the 
palate  is  not  to  be  confulted  ;  a  glafs  of 
mere  wine  fliould  never  be  given  to  chil 
dren,  as  it  injures  their  tender  ftomachs 
like  a  glafs  of  brandy  or  rum  or  gin  to  a 
grown  perfon  ;  and  induces  thofe  difeafes, 
which  it  is  often  erroneoufly  given  to  pre 
vent ;  as  weaknefs  of  digeflion,  with  the 
production  of  worms  in  confequence. 
Wine  nevertheless  diluted  with  thrice  its 
quantity  of  water  may  be  allowed,  if  re 
quired,  inltead  of  fmall  beer ;  or  ale  or 
cider  diluted  with  thrice  their  quantities 
of  water. 


l62  DIET. 

Ripe  fruits,  or  fruit  pies,  are  peculiar 
ly  ferviceable  to  the  confiitutions  of  chil 
dren,  as  well  as  agreeable  to  their  palates ; 
as  they  are  known  to  prevent  biliary  con 
cretions,  and  confequent  jaundice  ;  and  on 
the  fame  account  to  render  the  {kin  clear 
er  and  fairer,  as  well  as  to  counteract  the 
tendency  to  putrid  difeafes.  Thefe  fbould 
therefore  be  allowed  to  children  :,t  all  fea- 
fons  ;  and  may  either  occasionally  confti- 
tute  a  part  of  their  diet ;  or  may  be  recom 
mended  to  them,  when  they  lay  out  part 
of  their  pocket-money  with  huckfters,  in 
preference  to  feed-cakes,  gingerbread,  or 
fugar-plumbs;  the  former  of  which  are 
generally  made  of  bad  flour  deteriorated 
by  fpice  ;  and  the  latter  are  liable  to  be  co 
loured  with  gamboge,  vermillion,  verdi- 
greafe,  or  other  noxious  drugs. 

Too  long  fafling,  or  food  of  lefs  nou- 
rifhment  than  they  have  been  accufiorned 
to,  are  peculiarly  injurious  to  children  ;  as 
they  weaken  their  po^ver  of  digeftion,  im~ 


DIET.  163 

pair  their  ftrength,  and  impede  their 
growth.  The  children  of  the  inferior 
poor,  and  of  families,  which  have  adopted 
fome  ill-advifed  rules  of  abfiemious  diet, 
are  frequently  ftarved  into  the  fcrophula, 
and  become  pale-faced  and  bloated,  owing 
to  deficiency  of  the  quantity  of  blood,  and 
to  want  of  fufficient  ftimulus  to  the  abforb- 
entfyftem. 

If  young  people  are  thought  to  be  too 
corpulent,  a  diminution  of  food  with  an 
increafe  of  exercife,  when  they  have  ob 
tained  their  full  growth,  may  be  ufed  with 
advantage  ;  but  even  then  not  without  cau 
tion.  Since  young  ladies,  after  they  have 
left  fchool,  who  by  ill  advice  ufe  too  great 
abftinence,  are  liable  to  become  pale  and 
emaciated,  and  to  fall  into  univerfal  debi 
lity;  which  remains  through  a  difeafed 
and  comfortlefs  life. 


SECTION  XXXVIII. 


ECONOMY. 


1.  J\  DUE  regard  to  the  prudent  ex 
penditure  of  their  money,  a  proper  care 
of  their  clothes,  and  a  pariimonious  atten 
tion  to  the  lapfe  of  time,  Ihould  be  incul 
cated  into  the  minds  of  young  ladies.  To 
effed  thefe  purpofes  one  efficacious  me 
thod,  where  the  ufual  exhortations  fail, 
may  be  to  fuffer  their  imprudence  to  pro 
duce  forne  inconvenience  to  themfeives ; 
which  they  (hould  be  permitted  to  feel  to  a 
proper  degree. 

Thus  a  profufe  unneceffary  expendi 
ture  of  their  pocket  money  will  ftiortly  in 
duce  poverty  ;  which  fliould  by  no  means 
be  alleviated  by  a  frefh  fupply  of  money  ; 
till  the  inconvenience  produced  has  effect- 


ECONOMY.  165 

ed  a  conviftion  of  the  impropriety  of  their 
conduci.  Except  when  the  expenditure 
has  been  made  for  fome  laudable  purpofe, 
and  then  no  time  fhould  be  loft  in  reftor- 
ing  the  power  of  repeating  it. 

The  fame  means  may  be  ufed  in  ref- 
pecl  to  their  omiflion  to  take  care  of  their 
clothes  ;  they  fliould  find  the  neceffity  o? 
repairing  them  with  their  own  hands,  or  of 
foregoing  fome  vifiting  amufements,  till 
new  ones  can  be  procured  ;  that  thus  the 
confequent  inconvenience  may  teach  them 
economy,  if  they  are  otherwife  too  inat 
tentive  to  the  ufual  admonitions  on  thefe 
fubje&s. 

• 

In  refpedl  to  the  economy  of  time  the 
hours  of  amufement  and  of  exercife  fhould 
be  regularly  counted;  and  the  length  of 
time  young  ladies  employ  in  dreffing 
fliould  be  nicely  attended  to  ;  as  in  adult 
life  the  hours  confumed  at  the  toilet  of 
fome  ladies  is  perfedly  ridiculous,  and  de- 
P 


166 


ECONOMY.. 


tains  them  from  more  important  duties. 
Perhaps  a  dated  time  might  be  allowed  the 
young  ladies  for  adjulling  the  articles  of 
their  drefs,  that  they  might  acquire  a  habit 
of  difpofing  them  with,  neatnefs,  talte,  and 
elegance;  and  yet  with  expedition. 

2.  Men  are  generally  trained  from 
their  early  years  to  the  bufinefs  or  profef- 
lion,  in  which  they  are  afterwards  to  en 
gage  ;  but  it  mod  frequently  happens  to 
ladies,  that  tho'  deftined  to  the  fuperin- 
tendance  of  a  future  family,  they  receive 
fcarcely  any  previous  inftruClion  ;  but  be 
gin  this  important  office  with  a  profound 
ignorance  of  the  value  of  money,  and  of 
the  proper  application  of  the  things,  which 
ftirround  them. 

Many  young  ladies  defHtute  of  mo 
thers,  and  without  a  home,  are  continued 
at  fchool  to  a  later  age  ;  fuch  ihould  be 
formed  into  a  clafs,  and  properly  inftrud- 
ed  in  domeftic  economy  ;  each  of  them 


ECONOMY.  167 

fuperintending  the  bufinefs  of  the  family,  a 
week  or  a  month  by  turns  ;  not  only  pro 
viding  for  the  table,  and  directing  the 
cookery,  but  they  fhould  alib  be  taught 
other  parts  of  domeftic  employment,  as 
cutting  out  linens,  and  making  them  up 
with  plain  and  ftrong  needle  work,  either 
for  their  own  families,  or  to  be  given  as 
clothiijg  for  neceflitous  infants  or  mothers. 

Such  an  addition  of  domefric  know 
ledge  and  benevolent  induftry  to  orna 
mental  accomplishments  would  give  the 
fchool,  that  procures  it,  a  decided  advan 
tage  over  other  fchools,  which  have  no  fuch 
inftitution. 


SECTION  XXXIX, 

SCHOOL- EDUCATION. 

Jl  HE  advantages  of  a  fchool-educa- 
tion?  where  twenty  or  thirty  children 
are  properly  5nftru£led,  over  that  in  a 
private  family  are  derived  from  feveral 
fources.  Firft,  it  mud  be  obierved,  that 
almoft  all  our  exertions  in  early  life  are 
owing  to  our  i  spit  at  ing  others;  in  child 
hood  we  are  mod  liable  to  imitate  th.e 
actions  of  thofe,  who  are  fomewhat  old 
er  than  ourfelves  ;  and  in  manhood,  of 
thofe  who  are  in  fomewhat  higher  life  ;. 
whence  the  general  prevalence  of  fa- 
fliion  in  drefsand  manners.  Now  there 
arc  more  examples  to  catife  imitative 
a&ivity  in  well  concluded  fchools,  and 
the  children  in  confequence  become 
more  aflive  in  the  purfait  of  their  ftu- 


SCHOOL-EDUCATION.  l6g 

dies,  and  in  the  acquirement  of  their  ac- 
coinpHthmciits. 

It  maybe  added,  that  not  only  chil 
dren,  before  they  have  acquired  the  ufe 
of  reafon  or  voluntary  deliberation,  but 
that  the  greateft  part  of  adult  mankind 
learn  all  the  common  arts  of  life  by  imi 
tating  others  ;  and  that  even  dumb 
creatures  feem  capable  of  acquiring 
knowledge  with  greater  facility  by  imi 
tating  each  other,  than  by  any  methods, 
by  which  we  can  teach  them.  Thus 
dogs,  when  they  are  fick,  learn  of  each 
other  to  eat  grafs  as  an  emetic  ;  and  cats 
to  moiften  their  paws  for  the  purpofe  of 
wafhing  their  faces.  And  the  readieil 
way  to  inftrudt  all  brute  animals  is  by 
practiiing  them  with  others  of  the  fame 
fpecies  ;  which  have  already  learnt  the 
arts,  we  wiih  them  to  acquire,  as  cxr 
plained  in  Zoonomia,  vol.  I.feft.  22.  ?. 

P  2 


1 7°  SCHOOL-EDUCATION* 

A  fecond  advantage  of  fchools,  when 
well  conducted,  is  that  children  often 
take  pleafure  in  teaching  each  other,  in- 
fomuch  that  at  boy's  fchools  I  have  of 
ten  obferved,  that  the  lower  clafleshave 
learnt  more  from  their  fchool-fellows  of 
the  higher  clafles,  than  even  from  their 
matters  ;  which  has  fomednies  arifen 
from  the  friendlhip,  or  vanity  of  the  el 
der  boy,  and  fo  me  times  from  the  folicita- 
tion  of  the  lower  one ;  but  has  in  all  cafes 
been  advantageous  to  both  of  them. 

A  third  fupertority  of  fchool -educa 
tion  arifesfrom  an  emulation,  which  na 
turally  exifts,  where  many  purfue  the 
fame  ftudies,  but  which  fhould  not  be 
encouraged  by  rewards  or  degradations  ; 
as  it  then  may  degenerate  iq,to  envy  or 
hatred  ;  butfnould  in  general  be  left  in- 
tirely  to  its  own  operation  ;  as  mention 
ed  in  feet.  xxx. 

A  fourth  advantage  of  fchool-educa- 
ion   is  from  the    children    acquiring   a 


SCHOOL-EDUCATION.  1  'Jl 

kind  of  pradical  phyfiognomy  ;  which 
renders  them  more  intelligent,  and  more 
interefting  companions  ;  and  is  of- great 
er  confequence  in  our  paflage  through 
life,  than  aimoft  any  fingle  accompliih- 
ment,  as  explained  in  fedu  vi.  and  fe&.. 
xxiv.  of  this  \vork. 

Fifthly,  where  languages  are  learnt 
by  converfation,  as  is  generally  pra£lifed 
in  teaching  the  French  language,  a 
fchool-eclucation  properly  conducted,  is 
much  fuperior  to  that  of  a  governefs  in 
a  private  family.  And  languages  are  for 
much  eafier  taught  to  children  by  con 
verfation  than  by  the  abftracft  rules  of 
grammar,  that  Mr.  Locke  is  felicitous  to 
have  the  latin  and  greek  languages  taught 
by  converfation  in  boys'  fchools  ;  and 
thinks  the  time  of  learning  words  might 
thus  be  much  fliortened,  which  now^occu- 
pies  feven  or  eight  years ;  part  of  which 
might  be  much  better  employed  in  acquir 
ing  the  knowledge  of  things. 


1 7*2  SCHOOL-EDUCATION. 

The  Philofopher,  who  defpifing  the 
goods  of  fortune  faid,  "  he  was  rich,  though 
he  carried  about  with  him  every  thing, 
which  "he  poffeffed,"  meant  to  affert,  that 
ftrength  of  mind  joined  with  (Irength  of 
body,  were  fuperior  to  any  other  advan 
tages  of  life.  A  good  education  furnifhes 
us  with  this  ineftimable  treafure  ;  it  ac 
companies  us  at  home,  travels  with  us  a- 
brcad  5  delights  us  in  folitude,  graces  us 
in  fociety ;  comforts  us  in  misfortune, 
guards  us  in  profperity  ;  contributes  to  the 
happinefs  of  others,  and  enfures  our  own, 


SECTION  XL. 

CATALOGUE   OF  BOOKS. 

JL  BEG  leave  to  apprize  the  readerr 
that  I  have  inferted  a  great  part  of  the  fol 
lowing  catalogue  of  books  for  the  younger 
children,  becaufe  they  were  recommend 
ed  to  me  by  ladies,  whofe  opinions  I  had 
reafon  to  regard,  and  not  from  my  own  at 
tentive  perufal  of  them  ;  which  has  been 
prevented  by  my  other  neceflary  occupa 
tions.  Such  of  them  therefore  v  as  are  lefs 
generally  known,  a  parent  or  governefs 
willpleafeto  read,  before  they  put  them  in 
to  the  hands  of  their  children.  And  I  can 
only  add,  that  if  I  had  myfelf  been  better 
acquainted  with  them,  the  collection  would 
probably  have  been  lefs  numerous. 


CATALOGUE  OF  BOOKS. 


LEARNING    TO    READ.— SEC.    3. 


OPELLING-Book,  by  D.  Fenning. 

Harry  and  Lucy. 

Mrs.  Barbauld's  Spelling-Books. 

Mrs.  Barbauld's  Leflbns. 

Fabulous  Hiftory  of  Robins,  by  Mi's.  Trimmer* 

Fairy  Spectator. 

Circuit  of  Human  Life. 

Scenes  for  Children. 

Rational  Sports. 

Rational  Dame. 

Hiftory  of  England,  with  cuts.    I  vol. 

Looking-Glafs  for  the  Mind,  with  cuts  by  Bewick. 

Cobwebs  to  catch  Flies.   2  vols. 

Little  Truths.  2  vols. Little  Mentor. 

Blind  Child. Poor  Child's  Friend. 

Davenport  Family. Letitia  Lively. 


CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS.  1  75 

Vifit  for  a  Week,  or  Hints  on  the  Improvement  of  l^ime. 

Village  School.    2  vols. 

Prince  Le  Boo. 

Sandford  and  Merton.   3  vols. 

Parent's  Afiiftant.   3  vols. 

Evenings  at  Home,  6  vols. 

Leifure  Hours,  by  P.  Wakefield,   2  vols. 

Mental  Improvement,  by  P.  Wakefield,   2  vols. 

Juvenile  Anecdotes. 

Pleafing  Inftru&or,   2  vols. 

Rudiments  of  Reafon,  3  vols. 

Rural  Walks,  byCh.  Smith,  2  vols. 

Rambles  farther,  by  Ch.  Smith,   2  vols. 

Juvenile  Magazine. 

Governcis  of  an  Academy. 

Progrefs  of  Man  and  Society,  by  Trufler. 

Beauties  of  the  Creation,  by  Riley. 

Mentoria,  by  Ann  Murry. 

Gay's  Fables. Dodfley's  Efop's  Fables. 

There  are  innumerable  other  books  publifhed  for  the 
ufe  of  children  from  one  penny  to  a  {hilling  and  upwards 
by  almoil  every  bookfellcr  in  London.  Many  of  the 
above  are  the  works  of  reputable  writers  ;  and  the  others 
have  been  recommended  to  me  by  thofe,  who  have  pe~ 
rufed  them. 


CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS. 


GRAMMAR.        SECT.    5. 

Grammatical  Introduction. 

Mrs.  Devis'  Rudiments  of  Grammar. 

Lowth's  Introduction  to  Englifli  Grammar. 

Am's  Grammar. Smetham's  pra&ical  Grammar* 

Johnfon's  Englifh  Dictionary,   Oct.  edit. 
Entick's  Spelling  Di&ionary. 
General  Grammar,  by  Mefifrs.  Port  Royal. 
Took's  Epea  Pteroenta,  or  Diverfions  of  Purley. 
Jeu  de  Grammaire,  par  de  Gaultier. 

Thefe  three  lad  treat  of  Grammar  too  minutely  and 
artificially,  rather  as  a  fcience  itfelf,  than  as  an  aid  to 
facilitate  the  acquirement  of  languages,  and  are  there 
fore  lefs  adapted  to  fchools. 

-FRENCH     LANGUAGE.        SECT.    6. 

Chambaud's  Grammar  and  Vocabulary. 

Cours  de  Lectures  pour  Les  Enfans,  par  Abbe  Gaultier. 

La  Bagatelle,  2  vols. 

Petites  Mifcel.  pour  les  Enfans. 

Le  Magazin  des  Enfans,  par  M.  de  Beaumont. 

Education  complete,  par  M^  de  Beaumont. 

Inftru&ion  pour  les  Jeunes  Dames. 


CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS.  Ijl 

Theatre  d'Education,  par  Mde.  de  Gerilis. 

Les  Veillies  du  Chateau,  par  Mde.  de  Genlis. 

L'Ami  des  Enfans,  par  Berquin. 

L'Ami  des  Adoletcents,  par  Berquin. 

Mythologie  des  Jeunes  Demoifelles,  par  M.   de  la  Mi- 

mardiere,   2  vols.  I2mo.  Fr.  &  Eng. 
Converfations  d'Emilie,  French  &  Englifh. 
Lodoick,  French  &  Englifh,  6  vols.  * 
Idylles  de  Gefner. 

Oevres  de  Florian. Les  Petites  Montagnards. 

La  Campagne  de  la  JeunefTe. Varietes  Hiftorique. 

L'Eleve  efe  fon  Inilrudlrice. 

Drames  et  Dialogues  de  Mad.  de  la  Fite. 

Queilions  par  Mad.  de  la  Fite. 

Fables  de  Cambray. 

Letters  de  Mad.  de  Lambert  a  fon  fils. 

Difcours  fur  4'Hiftoire  univerfal,  par  Bofluet. 

Gil  Bias. Paul  et  Virginie,  par  St.  Pierre. 

Letters  d'une  Peruvienne. Lettres  de  Sevignc. 

Voyages  de  Cyrus.     Numa  Pempilius.     Telemaque. 
Voyages  de  Jeune  Anacharfis,  6  vols.   12 mo. 


ITALIAN    LANGUAGE.        SEC.    6. 

Metaftafio. Seled  Plays  of  GoldonL 

Scelta  Italiane. 

A  fekdion  of  Metaftafio's  Works,  in  2  vols.  fmall. 

a 


1y  CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS. 

Ganganelli. Bentivoglio. Pallor  Fido. 

Gil  Bias,  tranflated  into  Italian. 

Lettres  d'une  Peruvienne,  tranflated  into  Italian,   with 

accents. 

Telemaco,  a  tranflation  from  Telemaque. 
Baretti's  Italian  Grammar. 
Baretti's  Italian  Di&ionary. 
Baretti's  Italian  Library,     8vo. 

The  greateft  part  of  thefe  French  and  Italian  books 
for  the  ufe  of  children,  as  well  as  very  many  Englifh 
ones,  may  be  had  at  Mr.  Peacock's  juvenile  library,  Ox- 
ford-ftreet,  London. 


ARITHMETIC.       SEC.    7. 

Vife's  Tutor's  Guide. — Button's  practical  Arithmetic. 
Wingate's  Arithmetic. 
Walkingam's  Tutor's  Afiiftant. 

GEOCRAPHY.       SEC.    8. 

Large  well-colour'd  four  fheet  Maps  of  the  World,  of 
Europe,    Afia,    Africa,  and  America,  and  of 
England. 

Geographical  Cards  by  Newbury, 


CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS.  179 


Geographical  Cards  by  Bowles. 

Geographical  Cards  with  prints  of  dreffes 

Fairman's  Geography,  8vo. 

Turner's  Geography,   I2mo. 

Faden's  Maps  with  blank  outlines. 

Moral  Syftem  of  Geogrophy,   12 mo. 

Harris  on  the  Globes 

Guthrie's  Geographical  Grammar. 

Brookes'  Gazetteer. 

Abbe  Gaultier'a  jeu  de  Geography* 


CIVIL     HISTORY.        SEC.    9. 

Hiftory  of  England,  with  prints. 

Chara&ers    of    Kings    of    England,    with    heads    by 

Bewick. 

Trimmer's  Hiftories  of  England,   Greece,  and  Rome. 
Riley's  hiftorical  pocket  Library,  6  vols.   12  mo. 
Rollin's  Ancient  Hiftory. 
Goldfmith's  Hiilories  of  Greece,   Rome,  England,  and 

Scotland. 

Millot's  Elements  of  Hiftory. Plutarch's  Lives. 

Prieftley's  Lectures  on  Hiftory. 

Prieftley's  Chart  of  Hiftory. 

Pvieftky's  Chart  of  Biography. 

Mrs.  Chapone's  Letter  on  Chronology. 

Circle  of  Sciences,  by  Newberry,  yth  v.  on  Chronology 


l8o  CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS. 

Voyages  and  Travels,  by  Mayor,  now  publishing  in  Nos. 

Beauties  of  England. 

Beauties  of  Nature  and  Art,   13  vols.  I2mo. 

Hume's  and  Henry's  Hiftories  of  England  ;  Robert- 
Ton's  Hiftories  of  Charles  the  5th,  and  of  America  ; 
with  Rollin's  and  Mil  lot's  antient  and  modern  Hiftories, 
are  too  voluminous  for  fchool  books. 


NATURAL    HISTORY.       SEC.     IO. 

Galton's  Treatife  on  Birds,  3  vols.  izmo. 
Natural  Hiftory  of  Beads  and  of  Birds,  i  vols. 
Hiftory  of  Quadrupeds,  by  Mrs.  Teachwell,  2  vols. 

Rational  Dame. Bewick's  account  of  Quadrupeds. 

Goldfmith's  Animated  Nature,   8  vols.  8vo. 
BufFon's  Natural  Hiftory  abridged,   2  vols.  Svo. 

Dictior.aire  Raifonne,  par  Bomare,  6  vols.  Svo.  is  a 
very  ufeful  work  on  Natural  Hiftory  to  be  occafionally 
referred  to,  rather  than  to  be  read  as  a  fchool  book. 
Pennant's  books  of  Zoology  ;  Barbut's  Hiftoire  des  In 
fects  ;  White's  Natural  Hiftory  of  Selbourn  ;  and  ma 
ny  other  works  with  numerous  plates,  are  too  volumi 
nous  or  too  expenfive  for  the  ufe  of  fchools. 


CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS.  l8l 

, 
RUDIMENTS     OF     TASTE.        SEC.     II. 

Spe&ator,  vol.  6,  No.  411,  10422. Burke  on 

Sublime  and  Beautiful. 

Blair's  Lectures. Hogarth's  Asalyfis  of   Beauty. 

Akenfide's  Pleafures  of  Imagination,   8vo. 

Longinus  on  the  Sublime,  tranflateci  by  Smith. 

Mafon's  Engli/h  Garden.  •  Wheatly  on  ornamental 
Gardening. 

Price's  EfTay  on  Picturefque. Gilpin's  Pic^urefque 

Views. 

Sir   Jofhua    Reynolds'    Difcourfes  to    the    Acaderay. 

Clio  on  Taile. Beauties  of  Shakefpear. Of 

Pope,  2  vols. Of  Johnfon, Of-  Rambler, 

Adventurer,  &c.  2  vols. —Of  Stern, Of 

Spe&ator,  Tatler,  Sec.  2  vols. 

Warton's  Hiftory  of  Poetry. ; Pope's  Effay  on 

Criticifm. 

Addifon's  Criticifms  on  Milton  in  the  Spectator. 

Spence's  Criticifm  on  Pope's  OdyfTy. Mrs.  Mon 
tague's  Effay  on  Shakefpear. 

Warton's  EITay  on  Pope,   2  vols.  8vo. 

Lord  Kaim's  Elements  of  Criticifm,    2  vols. 

This  lad  work  is  highly  ingenious,  but  too  abflrufe 
for  young  ladies,  who  might  more  eafily  improve  their 
tafte  in  refpedt  to  vifible  objects  by  frequctstly  being  (liewn 
with  proper  remarks  a  fele£l  collection  of  the  prints  of. 
beautiful  landfcapes,  or  of  beautiful  figures. 

0.2 


l8<2         CATALOGUE  OF  BOOKS, 


HEATHEN  MYTHOLOGY.   SEC.  I  » 


Young  Ladies  Mythology,  by  Mil's  de  la  Mlmardiere, 

2  vols.    i  2mo. 

BelPs  Pantheon,  410. -The  notes  In  Pope's   tranfia- 

tion  of  Homer. 

Dannet's  Dictionary,  in  French  or  Englifh,  4to. 
Inftruction   fur  le    Metamorphofes  d'   Ovide,    par  M. 

Ragois. 

Garth's  Tranflation  of  Ovid's  Metamorphofes. 
Spence's  "  Polymetis,    folio. Bryant's    Mythology, 

3  vols.   4to. 

Abbede  Pluche's  Hiftory  of  the  Heavens,   2  vols.   8vo 

Thefe  three  laft  works  are,  too  difficult  or  too  volu 
minous  for  young  ladies,  who  might  learn  heathen  my 
thology  more  eafily  and  more  agreeably  from  a  felecl: 
collection  of  the  imprefiions  from  antique  gems  and 
medallions,  or  of  prints  of  antient  ilatues. 

DISSERTATIONS.        SEC.     14. 

Spectator,     8  vols Guardian,     2   vols. 

Tatler,  6  vols. The  World,  4  vols. 

Rambler,  4  vols. Adventurer,  4  vols. 


CAT.ALCGUE    OF    BOOKS.  183 

Mirror,    3   vols.- -Anacharfis,     tranfiated   from    the 

French,   7  vols.   Svo. 

Converfations  of  Emelia,   2  vols. Turkifh  Spy. 

E flays  for  young  Ladies,  by  Mifs  H.  Moore. 
Improvement  o'f  the  Mind,   by  Mrs.  Cliapone, 
Lambert's  Advice  to  a  Son  and  Daughter, 
Gregory's  Advice  to   a  Daughter. —Locke   on 

Education.. 

• 

Mifs  Bowdler's  Works,   2  vols.    Svo. Mifs  TaibotY 

Works,   2  vols. 

Calendar  of  Nature,  by  Dr.  Akin, 
Introduction  to  the  Knowledge  of  Nature. 
Hallifax's   Advice  to    a  Daughter. Fitzcfborr/s 

Letters, 

Con  Phillips's  Whole  Duty  of  Woman. 
Lord   Chefterfield's    Letters  ;.   the     ifl   volume    only, 

4  vols.   Svo. 

Some  of  Lady  W.  Montague's  Letters,   2  vols. 
Rollings  Belles  Lettres,  4  vols.    12 mo. 

Britiih  Plutarch. Johnfon's  Lives  of  the  Poets. 

Aikin's  Life  of  Howard. Keir's  Life  of  Day. 

Franklin's  Life,  by  himfelf. Enfield's  Speaker. 

Elegant  Extracts,   3  vols.  large  o£lavo. 
Preceptor,   2  vols. 

The  ERglidi  and  French  profe  tranflation  of  fome  of 
the  antient  claffics  fhould  be  added,  as  Mrs.  Carter's 
Epift^tus  ;  Mrs.  Fielding's  Xenophon  ;  Melmouth's 


184  CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS. 

Epiftles  of  Pliny,  and  of  Cicero  to  his  Friends  ;  and 
the  Abbe  Mongauh's  of  thofe  to  Auiciio  ;  and- many 
Others. 


PLAYS.        SEC.     14. 

AddJfoirs  Cato. Thomfon's  Tragedies. 

o 

Cara&acus^nd  Elfrida,  by  Mr.  Mafon. 

Edgar  and  Elfrida .Cumberland's  Comedies. 

Sheridan's  Comedies. -Beauties  of  Shakefpear. 

Sacred  Dramas,   by  Mifs  Moore. Sacred  Dramas, 

by  Mad.  de  Genlis. 
Sacred  Dramas,  by  Metaflafio. 
L'Arni  des  Enfans. Theatre   of  Education,   by 

Mad.  de  Genlis. 
Tragedies  de  Racine. Tragedies  de  Corneille. 


NOVELS.      SEC.    14. 

Sandford  and  Merton,   3  vols. 

Children's  Friend,  by  Berquin. 

New  Robinfon  Crufoe. 

Adelard  and  Theodore,  by  Mad.  de  Genlis. 

Tales  of  the  Caille,  by  Mad.  de  Genlis,  5  vols. 

Moral  Tales,  by  Dr.  Percival, 

Moral  Tales,  by  Mils  MitchiJ,   2  vols.   8vo, 

Stories  from  Life,  by  M.  Wolitencrcft, 


CATALOGUE    CF    BOOKS.  185 

RafTelas,  by  Dr.  Johnfon,  with  Continuation. 

Agatha,    i  vol.    I2tno. Plain  Senfe,    3  vols.    I2mo. 

Difobedience,  4  vols.    izmo Edward,  by   the 

Author  of  Zelucco. 
Evelina,  by.Mifs  Burney,    2  vols. Cecilia,  by  MiTs 

Burney,  5  vols. 

Camilla,  by  Mifs  Burny,   5  vols. 
Emmeline  and  Ethelinda,  by  Ch»  Smith. 
Simple  Story,  by  Mrs.  Inchbald. 
Emily  Montao-ue,,by  Mifs  Brooks. 

Femak  Qwxotte,  2  vob. 

Belifarius,  by  Marmontel, Caroline  de  Leitchfield, 

Les  Romans  de  L'Abbe  Prevot. 
Laure,  5vols.   izmo. 


POEMS.        SEC.     24. 

Gay's  FabL'S. Thomfor/s  Seafons. 

Gifborne's  Walks    in  a    Foreft Moore's  Fable's 

for  the  Female  Sex. 

Hayley's  Serena,  and  his  Epidles. Co\vper?s  Tafk. 

Gray's  Poems, Collins'  Poems. 

Goldfmith's    Poems,    2   vob Lord   Lyttleton's 

Poems. 

Addifon's  Poems. Carter's  Poe.ms. 

Aikin's  Poems. Jerninghanrs  Poems. 

Akenfide's  Pleafures  of  Imagination. 


l86  CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS. 

Mafon's  Works,   3   vols.   8vo. Milton's  Poetical 

Works. 
Pope's  tranflation  of  Homer's  Iliad. 

of  Homer's  OdyfTey. 

Pope's  Works, Dr.  Warton's  edition. 

Garth's  tranflation  of  Ovid's  Metamorphofes. 

Dryden's,  or  Pitt's  tranilation  of  Virgil. 

Hoole's  tranflation  of  TafiVs  Jerufalem  delivered,  2  vols. 

Mickle's  tranflation  of  Camoen's  Lufiad* 

Botanic  Garden,  2  vols. 

Dodfley's  Colleftion  of  Poems. 

Elegant  Extra&s,  in  vcrfe. 

Henriade  de  Voltaire. 

ARTS    AND    SCIENCES.       SEC.     15. 

Lee's  Introdu&ion  to  Botany. 

Botanical  Dialogues,  for  the  ufe  of  Schools,  by  M.  E. 

Jackfon. 

Families  of  Plants,  tranflated  from  Linneus,   2  vols. 
Syftem  of  Vegetables,  from  Linneus,   2  vols. 
Notes  on  vol.    II.  of  Botanic  Garden. 
Curtis's   Botanical    Magazine,     with    coloured  prints  ; 

many  volumes    of  which  are  already  publifh'd  and 

which  continues  to  be  now  publifh'd  at  one  milling 

a  number,    1797. 

Martyn's  tranflation  of  Rofleau's  Letters  on  Botany. 
Lavoifier's  Elements  of  Chymiftry,  2  vols.   8vo, 


CATALOGUE    OF    BOOKS.  187 

Fourcroy's  Philofophy  of  Chymiftry, 

Watfon's  Chymical  EfTays. 

Kirwan's  Mineralogy,   2  vols,    Svo. 

Notes  on  Vol.  1^  of  Botanic  Garden. 

Grey's  Memoria  Technica. 

Gurney's  Short-Hand. 

Ladies'  Encyclopedia,  by  Seally,   3  vols.    I2mo. 

Circle  of  Sciences,   7  vols.   frnall. 

Introduction  to  Arts  and  Sciences,  by  Turner,   I  vol. 

MORALITY.        SEC.    21. 

Elements  of  Morality,  tranflated  from  Salzraann,  3  vols. 

Gifborne't  Duties  of  the  Female  Sex. 

Letters  of  Lady  Ruffel,  Svo. 

Economy  of  Human  Life. 

Old  Whole  Duty  of  Man. 

Paley's  Syftem  of  Morality. 

Gifborne's  Anfwer  to  Palcy. 

Thefe  two  lafl  works  are  too  fcientific  for  young  minds 
to  encounter. 

RELIGION.       SEC, 

Select  parts  of  Scripture. 

Barbauld's  Hymns. 

Sacred  Dramas,  by  Charl.  Smith 

i  by  Mad.  de  Genlis. 

. by  Metaftafio. 


l83  CATALOGUE    OF    COOKS. 

Old  Whole  Duty  of  Man. 
Blair's  Sermons,  4  vols. 

Carr's  Sermon's. Ogden's  Sermons. 

Baron  Haller's  Letter  to  his  Daughter. 

Lady  Pennington's  Advice  to  her  Daughter. 

Fafhionable  Religion,  by  Mifs  H.  Moore. 

Wifdom  of  God  in  the  Creation,  by  Ray. 

Durham's  Phyiico-Theology. 

Divine  BeneVblence  afTerted,  by  Dr.  Balguy. 

Trimmer's  Sacred  Hiftory,  6  vols. 

Butler's  Analyils. 

Paley'sEvidences  of  Chriftianity,    2  vols.  Svo. 

Books  of  controrertial  divinity  are  not  recommended 
to  Ladies. 


RUDIMENTS 


O    F 


TASTE 


IN    A    SERIES    OF    LETTERS 


A  MOTHER  TO  HER  DAUGHTERS. 


PREFACE. 


'  O  R  N  E  L  I  A,  daughter  of  Scipio 
African  us,  and  mother  of  the  Gracchi,  was 
not  more  diftinguifhed  by  the  Nobility  of 
her  rank,  than  by  the  luftre  of  thofe  vir 
tues  which  adorned  her  character — a  mod 
pleating  and  amiable  trait  of  which,  (hines 
in  that  little  incident  recorded  to  hsr  im 
mortal  honour.  A  Lady  of  Ionia  coming- 
one  day  to  vifit  her,  impatiently  expected 
to  be  {hewn  the  fplendor  and  magnificence 
of  her  toilette,  which  flic  fuppofed,  from 
her  rank  and  fortune,  to  be  very  fuperb. 
The  illuftrious  Roman  prolonged  the  con- 
verfation  till  her  children  were  at  hand, 
and  then  introducing  them  to  her  vifitor 
— u  Thefc,  fays  fhe,  are  my  jewels." 


2OO  PREFACE. 

The  writer  of  thefe  Letters  has  fo  great 
a  veneration  for  the  domeftic  charader  of 
this  Lady,  that  (he  thinks  (he  cannot  do 
better  than  give  them  to  the  public,  under 
the  fignature  of  Cornelia.  And  whatever 
their  other  defeds  may  be,  they  have  this 
at  lean:  to  recommend  them,  that  the  fame 
fentiments  of  maternal  tendernefs  which 
influenced  the  Roman  Matron,  gave  rife 
to  thefe  epiflles,  and  prompted  a  fond  Mo 
ther  to  become  an  Author. 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 


LETTER  L 

A  DESIRE  of  happinefs  is  the  full 
propenfity  of  the  heart. — It  is  born  with 
us,  and  to  attempt  its  fuppreffion  were  e- 
qually  fruitlefs  and  wrong  ;  ferine  Author 
of  Nature  has  done  nothing  in  vain,  and 
the  happinefs  he  lias  imprinted  on  the 
mind  fo  clear  an  idea  of,  has  fomewhere 
an  exiftence.. 

Hitherto  you  have  obeyed  the  impulfe 
of  nature  in  the  aiiieis  puriiiits  of  child 
hood  ;  but  the  time  ;y  a;,  hand,  when  this 
fweet  tranquillity  vvili  be  interrupted  by 
the  buitle  of  the  world,  which  will  not 
longer  perm-it  you  to  repofe  in  the  fimple 
amufernents  of  dreffing  dolls,  purfuing 
butterflies,  or  plucking  daifies.  Sweet 
R  2 


202  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

dear  delights  of  innocence  :  on  which,  as 
you  climb  the  rugged  heights  of  life,  you 
will  look  back  with  fond  regret. 

But  we  are  not  born  for  ourfelves  a- 
lone  ;  and  therefore  have  duties  to  per 
form,  obligations  to  difcharge,  and  diffi 
culties  to  encounter ;  in  the  courfe  of 
which,  many  a  fevere  check  is  given  to 
this  happinefs  which  we  all  fo  ardently 
feek  ;  yet  the  defire  of  it  will  even  acquire 
flrength  by  the  repulfe,  and  there  was  ne 
ver  yet  a  wretch  who  had  found  it  dimi- 
nifhed  by  misfortune.  I  wifh  the  fuccefs 
of  this  paffion  could  be  fliewn-as  demon- 
ftrable  as  its  exifience. 

But  the  truth  is,  all  mankind  are  run 
ning  after  the  fame  objeft,  though  in  fuch 
oppoiite  directions,  that  if  it  were  not  for 
their  concurrent  teftimony,  it  would  be 
fcarcely  credible  that  they  had  each  the 
fame  view.  Yet  it  is  the  fate  of  moft  of 
them  to  fit  down  at  laft,  in  the  very  fame 


RUDIMENTS   OF  TASTE,  203 

difpofition  which  Solomon  was  in  when  he 
complained,  rather  peevifhly  it  muft  be 
owned,  that  all  was  vanity  and  vexation  of 
fpirit.  Man  walks  indeed  in  a  vain  (ha- 
dow,  and  'tis  pitiable  to  reflect  that  a  being 
of  fo  tranfient  a  duration  fliouid  yet  wafte 
the  trifling  portion  of  time  allotted  him  in 
vain  and  fruitlefs  purfuits,  and  after  all 
the  fchemes  of  the  fanguine,  and  the  la 
bours  of  the  aclive,  to  find  the  delired  at 
tainment,  as.  far  off  as.  ever.. 

But  this  has  been  the  cafe  of  millions, 
and  I  am  afraid  will  continue  to-be  fo,  at 
leaft  till  we  are  unanimous  in  deciding  on 
that  grand  point  wherein  this  good,  of 
which  we  have  all  fo  high  an  idea,  con- 
fifts  :  an  agreement  from  which  alas,  we 
are  at  the  fartheft  diftance  imaginable. 
And  here,  my  deareft  girls,  lies  the  whole 
of  the  miftake.  The  Creator  has  not  been 
.  wanting  to  provide  a  happinefs  exalted  as 
the  mind  itfelf  can  conceive  ;  but  man 
himfelf  errs  in  the  purfuit  of  it ;  feme 


TAST  E. 

placing  it  in  riches,  fome  in  power,  fcarce- 
ly  one  in  an  age  fuppofing  it  to  be  where 
it  really  is — in  the  pra&ice  of  virtue. 

But  while  the  human  heart  is  fet  on 
acquirements,  in  which  U  can  find  no  fa- 
tisfacflion  if  attained,  the  fpan  of  life  mufl 
neceffarily  be  palled  in  refllefs  anxieties 
and  melancholy  difappointrnent.  It  was 
the  aim  of  philofophy,  to  draw  juft  efti- 
mates  of  things,  and  to  prevent  its  pupils 
from  ^being  dazzled  with  the  fplendor  of 
wealth  and  power  ;  it  taught  that  the  fo- 
vereign  good  was  to  be  found  in  re<5Htude 
of  will.  It  would  be  a  {harne  for  us  to  be 
at  a  lofs  on  fuch  an  important  fubjed,  who 
have  received  leffons  from  a  much  better 
matter  than  ever  gave  iedtures  jn  the 
fchools  of  Athens. 

Refc  affured  that  in  the  exerci/e  of  fo- 
cial  and  religious  duties,  the  mind  will  find 
her  folicl  happinefs.  Wandering  in  reft- 
lefs  fearch,  like  Noah's  dove,  'tis  here  (lie 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

finds  at  length  the  welcome  olive,  the 
branch  whofe  verdure  blooms  for  immor 
tality.  Should  you  doubt  the  affertion, 
be  prevailed  on  at  leaft  to  try  the  experi 
ment. 


LETTER  II. 

PLEASURE  has  fomething  fo  allur 
ing  in  the  very  name,  that  it  is  not  fur- 
prifing  it  finds  fo  great  a  number  of  vota 
ries.  On  no  account  would  I  have  you 
infenfibleto  its  attractions,  but  rather  lead 
you  to  its  flowery  paths,  and  condudl  you 
to  the  moft  refined  delights.  Thefe  how 
ever  you  can  never  obtain,  except  you  are 
guided  in  the  choice  by  tafte  and  judg 
ment.  A  tafte  in  pleafure  is  neceflary  for 
the  feleclion  of  fuch  as  are  above  the  en 
quiries  of  the  vulgar,  fuitable  to  delicate 
and  refined  minds,  and  correfpondent  to 
the  nobleft  fentirnents;  of  courfe  depend 
ant  more  on  intelle<5lual,  than  on  corporeal 
faculties.  Taite  never  fails  to  rejed  what 
ever  is  grofs  and  fenfuai ;  yet  even  among 
the  more  refined  pieaiures,  a  found  judg 
ment  is  wanted,  to  difcriaiinate  the  folid 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

and  rational,  from  the  frivolous  and  fafti- 
dious.  The  elegant  hand  of  falhionable 
diffipation  has  often  given  a  polifh  to  what, 
in  its  own  nature,  can  never  deferve  the 
name  of  pleafure. 

Under  this  head  muft  be  comprehend 
ed  the  various  fpecies  of  fashionable  araufe- 
ments,  which  are  injurious  either  to  health 
or  fortune.  One  would  fcarcely  fuppofe 
fuch  purfuits  as  tliefe  fliould  ever  be  dig 
nified  with  the  name  of  pleafure.  Yet 
when  numbers  are  daily  feen  hazarding, 
not  only  extravagant  fums,  but  peace  of 
mind  alfo,  at  the  gaming-table — When 
the  order  of  nature  is  inverted,  and  the  re- 
fremments  of  repofe  are  bartered  for  mid 
night  rou's,  \$e  muft  conclude  that  fuch 
valuable  fjonnces  are  not  mad :  but  with 
the  expectation  of  forne  fupreme  pleafure 
to  reward  them  :  how  feldom  fuch  rewards 
are  found,  can  beft  be  determined  by  the 
teftimony  of  the  didipated  and  gay,  who 
after  they  have  wafted  the  inert  valuable 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

gs  of  I;fe7  as  time,  health,  fpirits,  ike. 
ii  genera -17  ci .    .  ft  dial  they  have  never 
found  the  iailsn,  :,ey  icuVit  afcer. 

To  be  able  to  direft  real  enjoyment 
from  the  falfe  glolfes  the  world  has  put  up 
on  it,  is  a  piece  of  wiidom  becoming  a 
philofopher;  but  it  is  a  piece  of  wifdom, 
you  my  dear  girls,  muft  alfo  acquire,  if 
you  expe<ft  to  be  happy.  Fafhion  has  ar 
rogated  to  ilielf '  the  prerogative  of  fixing 
the  criterion  of  pleafure  ;  but  fafhion  is 
often  a  dangerous  director,  and  is  at  beft 
an  irn perfect  one  ;  for  who  has  a  power  of 
effectually  biaffing  the  natural  difpofition 
of  another ;  if  therefore  what  is  called 
amufement  be  not  agreeable  to  the  real 
turn  of  the  mind,  it  ceafes  to  be  viewed  in 
that  light,  and  can  only  be  confidered  as 
an  irkfome  conformity  to  the  tafles  of 
others. 

Yet,  abjecft  as  fuch  a  fubmiffion  un 
doubtedly  is,  there  are  thoufands  who  vo- 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

luntarily  yield  to  it  who  are  content  to 
live,  move,  and  ac%  not  as  they  like  them- 
felves,  but  as  the  polite  world  thinks  fit  to 
didate.  I  am  no  advocate  for  affecfted  fin- 
gularity  in  things  merely  indifferent ;  but 
when  the  idol  fafhion  breaks  in  upon  the 
rules  of  virtue,  as  it  too  often  does,  or  the 
true  enjoyment  of  life,  this  is  fo  mean  a 
flavery  that  a  rational  being  might  be  ex 
pected  to  defpife  it. 

When  therefore  reafon  and  religion 
have  given  the  clue  to  your  pleafures,  re- 
folve  always  to  have  them  of  your  own 
chufing,  and  not  of  other  people's.  The 
fandion  of  numbers  is  the  cauie  that  draws 
youth  from  virtue  and  happinefs  :  reafon, 
when  aided  by  a  proper  education,  would, 
if  left  to  herfelf,  point  out  the  way  to  both. 

There  are  pleafures,  my  dear  girls,  to 

be  met  with  in  this  journey  of  life,   pure 

and  fublime  ones  too,  if  we  look  for  them 

through  the  medium  of  unvitiated  tafte. 

S 


21  O  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

Did  ycu  ever  discharge  a  focial  duty,  but 
upon  looking  into  your  heart,  you  there 
perceived  a  glow  of  latisfaction  ?  But  if 
VOM  aim  at  more  exalted,  more  rapturous 
fenfations,  give  full  fcope  to  the  impulfes 
of  benevolence  ;  try  what  it  is  to  heal  the 
broken-hearted;  diffufe  joy  through  the 
manfions  of  forrow,  and  refcue  merit  from 
the  preffure  of  indigence  and  misfortune. 

Thefe   employments  are  capable  of 

yielding  plenfures  fuitable  to  the  moft  ex 
alted  capacities,  boundlefs  as  the  moft  fan- 
guine  imagination  can  paint  them. 

But  if  fo  vail  a  multitude  have  erred  in 
the  purfuit  of  pieafure,  through  levity,  not 
an  inconftderable  number,  of  a  very  oppo- 
fite  temper,  are  at  equally  as  great  a  dif- 
tance  from  it  :  thefe  are  the  morofe  and 
cynical,  who  will  not  condefcend  to  the 
fober  fatisfa&ions  that  are  to  be  found  in  a 
domeilic  circle,  u  here  the  focial  affections 
are  cultivated  :  if  the  gay  and  volatile  mif- 
take  the  nature  of  pieafure,  thefe  feem  to 


RUDIMENTS   OF   TASTE.  Cl  1 

queftion  its  very  exiftencc,  and  pafs  tliro' 
life  without  Hooping  to  pick  up  even  one 
of  the  fair  blaQbins  which  nature  has  icat- 
tered  in  the  way. 

Ever  be  your  hearts  open  to  the  f\veet 
emotions  of  focial  love,  and  you  uTll  not 
have  caufe  to  complain  that  the  pa:li  of 
human  life  affords  nothing  but  briars  and 
thorns. 

Nor  is  it  from  the  relative  duties  alone 
we  can  derive  happinefs ;  the  amufing, 
the  interfiling  book  of  nature  is  open  to 
all  who  can  read  it  :  here  you  rneet  with 
eternal  variety,  order,  and  beauty  ;  a  thou- 
fand  charms  await  the  mind  which  pofieffes 
a  tafte  for  fimple  pleafures;  to  fuch  the 
whole  creation  is  a  boundlefs  fource  cf 
rational  amufements.  Happy,  ineffably 
happy,  they  who  can  be  pleated  with  art- 
lefs  nature,  and  contemplate,  with  delight, 
the  noble  imagery  with  which  {he  abounds. 
For  my  part,  I  fliould  dsfire  no  greater 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

proof  of  the  purity  and  elegance  of  your 
tafie,  than  to  hear  you  fpeak  in  raptures  of 
the  graceful  foliage  of  a  wood,  the  beauty 
of  a  lawn,  or  any  of  thofe  charming  rural 
fcenes  which  are  fo  often  over-looked,  for 
the  far  lefs  nobler  productions  of  art. 

Efteem  me  ever  the  moft  affeftionate 
of  your  friends. 


LETTER  III. 


VERY  one  knows  that  human  life 
is  expofed  to  various  miferies ;  bat  every 
one  does  not  know,  at  lea  ft  does  not  con- 
fider,  that  the  far  greater  part  of  thefe  mi 
feries  fpring  from  the  pafllons  :  yet  the 
paflions,  you  reply,  are  implanted  in  us  by 
nature — we  cannot  eradicate  them. 

That  is  true  ;  you  cannot  eradicate  the 
paflions,  nor  is  it  expedient  you  (hould  ; 
for  as  we  are  the  workmanfhip  of  Infinite 
Wifdom,  fo  doubtlefsly  the  prcpenfities 
He  has  formed  us  with,  are  in  thernfelves 
very  good;  but  then  their  good  or  ill  ten 
dency  muft  be  determined  by  this  fingle 
queftion,  Whether  they  govern  us,  or  we 
govern-them  ?  In  the  latter  csfe  they  re-- 
femble  thofe  falucary  breezes,  which  waft 
health  and  fweetnefo  en  their  wings  :.  in 
S  2 


214  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

the  former  they  may  be  compared  to  cer 
tain  hurricanes,  which  tear  up  all  before 
them,  and  deform  the  beauteous  afpecft  of 
the  moft  luxuriant  climates.  There  is 
more  felicity  to  be  found  in  the  world 
than  is  often  fuppofed  ;  but  never  let  us 
pretend  to  look  for  it  before  we  have  fi- 
lenced  the  pafficns ;  the  perpetual  con 
tention  we  muit  have  with  them  will  elfe 
interrupt  our  fuccefsful  fearch. 

Pride,  my  dear  girls,  is  a  vice  that 
fprings  up  in  the  mind,  almoft  without  her 
attending  to  it  :  its  charaders  are  an  im 
moderate  felf-love,  conceitednefs,  and  ar 
rogance,  with  a  profound  contempt  of 
every  other  perfon  ;  ever  infatiable  in  its 
defire  of  refped,  extremely  fufceptible  of 
the  flighted  affronts,  and  jealous  of  the 
leaft  tribute  of  applaufe  paid  to  another. 
Perfons  cf  this  caft  cannot  in  the  nature 
of  things  be  hsppy,  as  they  may  be  faid  to 
live  in  a  fiate  of  hoflility  with  all  the  world  ; 
like  Ifhmael,  they  have  their  hands  againft 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  21  5 

every  man,  and  every  man's  hand  is  againft 
them. 

Ambition  condemns  its  wretched  vo 
tary  to  forego  the  fvveets  of  content  andpre- 
fent  eafe,  for  the  uneafy  dreams  of  rank 
and  power.  It  is  happy  for  the  world 
when  fate  denies  to  the  ambitious  that 
power  to  which  their  defires  are  perpetu 
ally  afpiring.  Innumerable  are  the  hor 
rid  deeds,  which  the  hiiroric  page  records, 
that  have  been  perpetrated  by  the  impulfe 
of  this  reftlefs  paffion  ;  yet  if  in  pity  to 
mankind;  its  direful  effecfts  are  retrained, 
ftill  the  bofom  where  it  rages  muft  be  a 
prey  to  inexpreffible  agonies. 

Envy  is  a  natural  attendant  on  pride 
and  ambition :  it  has  very  aptly  been  com 
pared  to  .a  vulture  preying  on  the  vitals, 
and  there  could  not  poffibly  have  been'de- 
vifed  a  more  expreffive  fimilitude.  That 
mind  which  is  capable  of  regarding  with 
the  leaft  degree  of  regret,  the  more  fortu- 


21  6  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

nate  acquirements  of  another,  has  a  per 
petual  fource  of  difquietude,  and  muft  ever 
pine  beneatli  the  inexpreiiijie  mifery, 
which  is  both  the  confequence  and  the  pu- 
nlihment  of  fo  bafe  a  piopeiifity.  As  en 
vy  is  the  meanefi  of  ail  the  paff.ons,  fo  in 
its  own  nature  it  is  the  moil  oppofife  to 
happinefs. 

Covetoufnefs  is  a  vice  that  abforbs  eve 
ry  finer  feeling  of  the  foul.  Whatever 
fordid  fatisfadion  the  rniler  may  feel  in  a- 
mafling  his  treafures,  yet  the  cares  which 
unavoidably  attend  it,  and  the  foiicitude 
the  prefervation  of  it  demands,  more  than 
balance  the  felfiili  gratification.  He  knows 
nothing  of  the  fweet  emotions  of  charity 
and  benevolence,  and  muft  be  ever  a  ftran- 
ger  to  the  noble  fenfations  they  excite. — 
It  is  well  if  the  fuggeftions  of  his  bonnd- 
lefs  avarice  do  not  prompt  him  beyond  the 
bounds  of  integrity.  The  honefty  of  a 
covetous  perfon  can  be  but  doubtful  at  the 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  0,1  J 

A  revengeful  difpolition  is  as  dreadful 
to  fociety  as  burdenfome  to  itfelf  :  it  is 
the  whirlwind  of  the  foul,  which  under 
its  dominion  refembles  a  fury  of  the  in 
fernal  regions.  What  fad  cataftrophes 
have  been  effected  by  revenge  !  what  in- 
expreflible  torment  overwhelms  the  heart, 
where  that  dreadful  venom  operates ! 

It  is  eafy  to  perceive,  by  the  flighted 
glance,  that  every  one  of  the  paffions  here 
enumeratedaretotallydeftructive  of  peace: 
there  can  be  no  fuch  thing  as  tranquillity 
in  the  breaft  which  they  inhabit.  Let  it, 
then,  be  the  care  of  my  dearefi.  girls,  to 
guard  againft  the  fatal  afcendancy  of  either 
of  them.  There  cannot  be  a  more  lame n-*- 
table  object  than  a  human  being  who  fub- 
mits  to  become  the  iport  of  paffions :  a 
barque  in  a  ftorm,  driven  by  winds,  and 
fhattercd  by  the  tempeft,  exhibits  but  a 
faint  picture  of  fuch  a  wretch,  whofe  days 
pafs  in  continual  anguilh  ;  he  looks  for 
peace,  but  finds  defpair  ;  cafts  oblique  re- 


2l  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE* 

flecftions  on  the  wifdom  and  goodnefs  of 
Providence  ;  diftrufis  his  attributes ;  curf- 
es  his  own  being  and  dies  if  poffibie  more 
wretched  than^he  lived. 

•  The  infinitely  wife  and  good  Creator 
faw  the  abundant  evil  that  would  accrue  to 
mankind  from  the  degeneracy  of  the  paf- 
fions,  and  therefore  in  his  goodnefs  deter 
mined  at  an  appointed  time  to  promulgate 
a  religion,  the  aim  of  which  fhould  be  to 
regulate  the  pafiions,  and  direct  them  to 
their  proper  channel ;  fuch  is  the  Chrif- 
tian  revelation  ;  in  its  ends  and  nature  an 
antidote  to  moral  evil. 

Perhaps  the  natural  paffions  of  the  hu 
man  mind  may  be  reduced  to  two — the 
love  of  pleafure  and  the  love  of  praife  ; 
and  from  the  corruptions  of  thefe  may  be 
traced  every  irregular  affection  of  the 
heart — when  men  no  longer  knew  the  true 
fource  from  whence  to  lock  for  happinefs, 
or  approbation,  it  is  not  much  wonder  it 


UUDIJMENTS  OF  TASTE.         '  2lp 

fliould  be  fought  in  power,  riches  and  pre 
eminence  ;  not  that  the  love  of  thefe 
fliould  branch  into  felf-love,  vain  glory, 
and  all  the  other  evil  paiiions,  which  caufe 
fo  much  rniferv  in  the  world. 

The  regulation  of  the  heart  and  its  de- 
fires,  is  a  point  then  of  the  utmoft  impor 
tance,  finc'e  on  it  depends  your  prefent 
peace  and  eternal  glory.  lt  Keep  thy 
heart  with  all  diligence,  for  out  of  it  are 
the  iiTues  of  life."  And  when  you  have 
repelled  the  approach  of  any  paffion, 
guard  ftill  more  effectually  againft  its  en 
trance,  by  endeavouring  to  eftablifh  in 
your  mind  the  contrary  virtue  ; — as  for  in- 
ftance,  fubdue  pride  and  cheriih  humility  ; 
guard  againft  the  deiire  of  power  and  lich- 
es,  by  attaining  that  poverty  of  fpirit  which 
is  content  with  little,  and  defires  no  ap- 
plaufe  but  that  of  Heaven. 

Never  lofe  fight  of  this  truth — that 
there  is  no  happinefs  adequate  to  the  ca- 


22O 


RUDIMENTS  OF   TASTE. 


pacities  of  the  human  foul,  but  what  is 
found  in  the  exercife  of  piety  and  virtue  ; 
nor  any  praife  worthy  her  regard,  but  what 
refults  immediately  therefrom. 


LETTER  IV. 


JL  HE  moft  glorious  conqueft  you  can 
poffibly  obtain  is  that  of  yourfelves.  So 
lomon  was  of  opinion,  that  he  who  could 
govern  his  own  fpirit,  had  attained  a  much 
higher  point  of  dominion,  than  if  he 
ftiould  rule  a  kingdom.  It  is  certainly 
much  eafier  to  give  wife  and  upright  laws 
to  others,  than  to  obey  them  o\irfelves  ; 
and  when  you  can  controul  your  o\vn  in 
clination,  you  will  have  learned  the  whole 
effence  of  moral  philofophy. 

But  a  negative  virtue  is  not  all  that  is 
to  be  attained,  although  thoufands  content 
with  it,  maintain  through  life  the  character 
of  good  fort  of  people. — The  epithet, 
however,  contains  no  very  high  eulogium, 
thofe  good  kind  of  folks  feldom  rife  above 
a  mediocrity  in  goodnefs.  It  certainly  is 
T 


222  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

not  Sufficient  to  abnain  from  evil,  a  chrif- 
tian  mail  be  diflinguiflied  by  aclive  virtue. 

The  Chriftian  religion  is  a  beautiful 
comment  on  the  moral  law.  The  pried 
who  palled  by  the  wounded  Jew,  was,  for 
aught  we  are  told  to  the  contrary,  a  very 
good  fort  of  man,  and  had  fome  femiments 
of  compafiion,  for  he  went  and  looked  on 
ib.3  poor  creature,  and  no  doubt  kindly 
^ijhed  it  bad  been  in  his  power  to  relieve 
him  ;  but  the  good,  the  benevolent  Sama 
ritan,  was  the  generous,  atth-e  friend, 
whofe  character  will  never  be  read  without 
being  admired.  The  lawyer  alfo  poflefied 
a  tolerable  (hare  of  negative  merit,  having 
always  kept  the  commandments  ;  yet  fays 
our  Saviour,  thou  lacked  one  thing — that 
heroic  benevolence,  which  disregards  all 
attention  to  felfifli  gratification,  in  the  no 
ble  ardour  with  which  it  contributes  to  the 
neceliities  of  mankind. 

Thefe  inftancesare  fine  illuftrations  of 
the  Mofaic  difpenfation,  and  eminently 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  223 

tend  to  exalt  human  nature  to  the  higheft 
poffible  perfection.  It  is  not  enough,  fay 
the  gofpel  tenets,  that  ye  refrain  {rein  ac 
tual  violence  to  any  one — you  fhaii  love 
your  enemies,  and  do  good  to  thofe  that 
hate  you.  Severe  injunftion  ! — yet  you 
fee  by  it  to  how  refined  a  pitch  the  virtue 
.of  a  chriitian  inuft  afpire. 

Do  not  then  reft  fatisfied  with  being  as 
Tuft  or  kind  as  the  letter  of  the  law  exacts 
• — be  actively  good,  and  fed-:  occafions  of 
exercifing  your  kindnefs  and  charitv — to 
achninifier  as  far  as  we  are  able  to  the 
wants  of  our  fellow  creatures — ic  reclaim 
the  vicious— to  vindicate  the  character  of 
the  injured — alien  the  cbiir-s  of  the  friend- 
lefs  and  oppreiTed — reconcile  differences, 
and  be  indefatigable  in  die  promotion  of 
peace  and  happinefs  to  all  within  the  com- 
pafs  of  our  ability,  are  employments  wor 
thy  of  a  rational  being. 

There  are  many  cafes  that  occur  in 
life,  wherein  thofe  who  will  obey  only  the 


224  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

rules  of  legal  judice,  mud  fall  fhoit  of 
thole  notions  of  honefiy,  which  natural 
reafon  and  confcience  fugged  ;  as  a  good 
mind  wants  not  the  bonds  of  human  laws, 
fo  on  fome  qccafions  it  rifes  to  a  generofi- 
ty  that  is  fuperior  to  their  narrow  limits. 
Obey  the  innate  ideas  of  redlitude  which 
God  himfelf  has  damped  on  the  human 
foul — and  think  it  not  fufficient  to  be  juil, 
except  you  are  generous  alfo. 

Let  your  conduct  be  regulated  by  the 
nice  ft  rules  of  propriety  and  prudence  ; 
and  let  your  bofoms  glow  with  the  enthu- 
fiafm  of  virtue,  that  you  may  ever  ftiine 
forth  the  deady,  zealous  friend,  the  bene 
volently  adive  neighbour,  'arid  the  truly 
ufeful  member  of  fociety ;  considering 
yourfelves  as  citizens  of  the  world,  whofe 
only  bufinefs  it  is  to  do  good. 


LETTER  V. 


BUT 


fo  exalted  and  refined  a  turn 
of  fentiment  is  never  the  production  of 
ignorance.  It  is  only  in  cultivated  minds 
we  mud  look  for  it  ;  for  the  prime  fruits 
of  virtue  grow  not  in  the  foil  that  lias 
never  been  broken  up  by  moral  indruc- 
tion,  A  virtuous  and  intelligent  friend 
is  perhaps  the  mod:  valuable  acquisition 
a  young  perfon  can  make  ;  but  as  one 
of  this  defcription  may  never  fall  to  your 
lot,  iupply  the  want  thereof,  as  well  as 
you  can,  by  book's. 

By  all  means  cultivate  a  tade  for 
reading,  but  take  care  that  your  tade  be 
a  jud  one — that  is,  be  more  clcfirous  of 
inftruftion  than  arnufement  or  you  will. 
profit  but  little  by  literary  purfuits. 
Thofe  who  read  merely  to  pleafe  the 
T  2 


226  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

imagination,  may  be  fare  of  not  reading 
to   advantage,    and  do  feldom  acquire  a 
relifti  for  works  of  folid  merit  and  utility, 
I  have  never  known  a  young  perfon  who 
was  paffionately  fond  of  novels  capable 
of  relifliing  any  thing  fuperior  to  them. 
For  my  own  part,  I  had  rather  fee  a  girl 
.wholly  ignorant  of  the  alphabet,  than  at 
tached  to  that  fpecies  of  writing  ;  for  I 
am  convinced  that  infinitely  more  have 
erred  in  the    conduct  of  life  from    that 
caufe,  than  from  any  other.     The  fenti- 
ments  and  ideas  they  imprefs,   are  fatal 
illufions  to  miflead  the  poor  reader,  who, 
after  wafting  days  and  years  in  the  ftudy, 
is  ftill  an  utter  ilranger  to  the  world  fhe 
lives  in — and,   what  is   worfe,    infpired 
with  the  mod  erroneous   notions  of  it, 
which  commonly  lead  to  fome  falfe  ftep, 
or  ill-judged  connection,  that  fecures  her 
a  wretch  for   life.     It  cannot  be  other- 
wife — .for  the  fcenes,  chara£ters,  and  in 
cidents,  thefe  books  dcfcribe,    are  to  be 
found  no  where  but  in  the  author's  ro- 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

mantic  fancy.  They  have  nothing  to 
do  with  the  real  knowledge  of  the  world  ; 
and  confequently,  thole  who  think  to 
fleer  through  it  by  fuch  guides,  muft9  in 
the  end,  find  themfelvcs  miftaken.  Juit 
as  well  may  a  traveller  think  to  make 
the  tour  of  Europe  by  a  chart  of  Afiar 

If  curiofity  muft  be  amufed,  and  the 
imagination  pleafed,  why  may  not  the 
underltanding  be  improved  at  the  fame 
time  ?  This  is  very  practicable,  for 
there  are  many  works  of  genius  extreme 
ly  well  calculated  to  anfwcr  each  of 
thefe  ends  ;  but  they  are  not  the  hifto- 
ries  of  Sir  fuch  a  one,  Mifs  what  d'ye 
call  urn,  or  any  of  thofe  futile  produc 
tions,  which  the  prefs  daily  emits,  to  vi 
tiate  the  tafte,  and  corrupt  the  princi 
ples  of  the  age. 

There  is  a  certain  mental  vigour  ne- 
ceflary  to  virtue  as  well  as  to  happinefs, 
but  modern  novels,  under  the  fpecious 


228 


iUvlS  OF  TASTE. 


maf]<  of  refined  ft  aliments,  nurochice  a 
dangerous  foftncfs  that  has  oft-.  .v.  dcfcroy- 
ed  both.  True  refinement  Is  the  glory 
of  a  rational  creature,  hut  whatever  en 
ervates  the  inin:i,  mull  d'cbafe  it.  Ly- 
curgjs  thought  fo,  I  fuppofe,  when  lie 
banifhed  the  poets  from  his  common 
wealth  ;  yet  furely  he  lived  near  enough 
to  Athens  to  have  learned  to  draw  a 
proper  line  between  ferocity  and  effemi 
nacy. 

The  pailion  for  novelty,  fo  inherent 
in  youth,  may  be  abundantly  gratified, 
by  thefludy  of  hiftory.  Here  you  meet 
with  new  and  uncommon  events  —  be 
come  acquainted  with  a  variety  of  cha- 
radters,  and  are  enabled  to  form  a  juft 
efcimate  of  mankind  ;  for  except  allow 
ing  for  a  few  local  cuftoms  or  prejudi 
ces,  human  nature  was  the  fame  two 
thoufand  years,  ago  as  at  this  time.  There 
is  fomething  extremely  agreeable  to  the 
mind  in  weighing  and  examining  the 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.    . 

aftions  of  celebrated  perfonages,  who, 
in  their  day,  made  the  mighty  tremble 
— in  marking  the  rife  or  fall  of  empires, 
and  to  be  able  to  determine  the  fecret 
caufes  of  thofe  revolutions  which  once 
artonifhed  the  world. 

The  ages  appear  as  inconfiderable 
points,,  to  thofe  who  are  acquainted  with 
hiftory — they  fee  the  various  nations  of 
the  earth  pafs  in  review  before  them,  and 
trace  a  more  than  human  power  bufy  in 
the  affairs  of  men — by  taking  in  at  one  com- 
prehenfive  view  fo  vafl  a  trad  of  time, 
they  difcern  the  nice  connections  of  that 
fcheme  of  Providence,  which  often  appears 
broken  and  irregular,  when  contemplated 
only  through  the  medium  of  a  few  years* 

It  is  almoft  impoffible  to  be  well  verfed 
in  the  characters  of  the  politer  nations  of 
antiquity,  without  watching  fomething  of 
that  magnanimity  which  diftinguiftied 
them  ;  and  I  know  not  why  an  acquaint- 


23°  •   RUDIMENTS  OF    TASTE. 

ance  with  their  manners  fhould  not  be 
thought  as  neceftjiry  in  the  fyftem  of  FE 
MALE  EDUCATION,  as  it  ufually  is  in  that  of 
the  other  fex.  If  the  Greek  and  Ro 
man  veterans  difplayed  qualities  which 
the  heroes  of  the  prefent  day  would  be 
proud  to  imitate,  their  wives  and  daugh 
ters  were  often  patterns  of  fuch  virtue,  as 
would  be  allowed  to  dignify  a  lady  of  the 
eighteemh  century. 

Read  modern  hifiory  as  well  as  antient 
—the  knowledge  of  the  nations  who  inha 
bit  the  globe  as  well  as  yonrfehres,  is  amuf- 
ing  and  interefting — -he  heart,  too,  may 
be  the  better  for  it — narrow  prejudices 
are  removed,  and  the  better  mankind  be 
come  acquainted  with  each  other,  the  more 
the  divine  principle  of  philanthropy  muft 
be  extended.  National  enmfty  has  no 
other  parent  but  ignorance — the  enlight 
ened,  the  philofophic  mind,  even  through 
the  veil  of  different  tongues  and  cufioms, 
can  diicern  a  kindred  being a  mem- 


RUDIMENTS  0?  TASTE*  231 

ber  of  that  uriiverfal   family,  whole  head 
is  the  Deity. 

•  Next  to  travelling  itfelf,  nothing  tends 
more  to  enlarge  the  ideas  than  journals  of 
travels  and  voyages,  if  the  writers  have 
been  faithful  and  accurate;  and  you  will 
read  them  with  infinite  pleafure,  if  you 
have  been  careful  to  acquire  a  knowledge 
of  geography.  This  renders  you  familiar 
with  the  countries  you  read  of — You  re- 
collect  their  foil,  climate,  and  productions 
— know  their  refpedive  boundaries,  and 
can  readily  mark  out  their  place  on  the 
globe. 

Having  thus,  my  dear  girls,  pointed 
out  to  you  fo  exhauftlefs  a  fource  of  amufe- 
rnent,  I  will  only  for  the  prefeitt  add,  that 
I  am,  Sec. 


LETTER  VI. 


S  long  as  curiofity  continues  a 
leading  feature  in  the  human  character, 
Biography  will  form  a  favourite  fpecies  of 
reading.  Every  body  is  eager  to  pry  into 
the  private  chara<fter  of  a  celebrated  per- 
fonage,  and  are  better  pleafed  to  know, 
how  fuch  an  one  afts  in  domeftic  life,  than 
in  the  fenate,  or  the  field.  And,  indeed, 
it  is  there  that  the  beft  eftimate  of  the  real 
defcription  can  be  formed. 

The  private  lives  of  famous  perfons 
afford  much  edification  to  the  reader  ;  the 
vice  or  meannefs  too  often  there  difplayed, 
teaches  us  not  to  be  dazzled  by  the  blaze 
of  popularity  or  power  ;  and  to  contemn 
that  Virtue  which  is  built  on  the  defire  of 
fame  alone.  If  on  the  other  hand,  by 
following  thefe  darlings  of  fame  to  the  clo- 


RUDIMENTS   OF  TASTE.  ^33 

fet,  or  the  fire-fide,  we  difcover  the  fame 
noblenefs  of  heart  that  diftinguiflhes  them 
with  the  multitude,  juflly  they  become 
patterns  for  our  example;  the  mind  re 
joices  to  find  fomething  about  them  that 
is  writable,  for  though  few  are  called  forth 
as  diilinguifhed  aflors  on  the  theatre  of 
the  world,  all  may,  if  they  pleafe,  be  great 
in  private  life  :  That  is,  may  acquire  thofe 
amiable  qualities  of  mind,  which  can  on 
ly  conftitute  real  greatnefs;  without  which 
the  hero  is  no  more  than  a  hypocrite,  and 
even  the  robe  of  royalty,  but  a  tinfel  or 
nament  to  cover  real  meannefs. 

Your  chief  aim  thould  be  the  know 
ledge  of  the  human  heart,  and  that  is  in 
general  more  fully  difcovered  in  trifling 
traits  and  circumfiances,  than  by  impor 
tant  actions  performed  under  the  public 
eye.  But  you  no  where  find  human  na 
ture  fo  impartially  delineated,  as  in  the 
facred  writings.  There  the  hiftorians, 
neither  influenced  by  paflion  nor  preju- 
U  ' 


234  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

dice,  relate  both  adions  and  their  fe- 
cret  fprings  with  unerring  candour;  never 
calumniating  enemies,  or  Hooping  to  flat 
ter  the  favourites  of  their  nation. 


The  JewiCh  writers  had  the  faireft  op 
portunities  imaginable  for  exaggerating 
the  virtues  of  their  heroes,  confidering 
the  miraculous  powers  fo  often  exerted  in 
their  behalf.  JSuch  an  adventure  as  that 
of  David  with  Goliah,  would  have  been 
thought  by  a  Pagan  writer,  fufficient 
grounds  for  exalting  his  favorite  to  a  God  : 
yet  the  infpired  Biographer  has  drawn  that 
Prince  with  all  his  frailties  about  him  ;  all 
the  inequality  of  humanity  ;  fometimes 
globing  with  the  rapturous  devotion  of  a 

Seraphim  ; at  others,    enflaved  by  the 

meaneft  paffions.  Such  inftances  of  can 
dour,  coniidered  with  the  national  pride 
of  the  Jews,  leave  no  room  to  doubt  the 
veracity  of  the  facred  penman  on  any  oc~ 
calion. 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  $35 

The  fcriptures  alfo- finely  iiluftrate 
many  parts  of  profane  hifiory  :  we  are 
told  of  embattled  armies,  and  cities  level 
led  with  the  duft  ;  but  it  is  only  in  holy 
writ  we  find  thofe  armies  prophetically 
marfhalled,  and  that  definition  denoun 
ced  perhaps  an  hundred  years  before  the 
event.  Thefe  are  inftances  which  im- 
prefs  the  mind  with  reverence  for  the  fa- 
cred  records,  and  fill  it  with  augnft  ideas 
of  the  eternal  Providence. 

The  works  of  owr  bed  rnoralifis  will 
not  be  unentertaining  to  you,  if  your  tafte 
for  reading  be  as  good  as  I  with  it.  A- 
mongft  the  productions  of  this  kind,  are 
the  Spectator  and  the  Rambler;  asconfpi- 
cuous  for  the  elegance  of  their  language, 
as  the  foundnefs  of  their  morality.  But 
there  are  no  better  rules  for  the  moral  con- 
dud  of  life,  than  are  found  in  the  writings 
of  Solomon,  and  the  Son  of  Sirach;  which, 
though  compofed  fo  m-sny  ages  ago,  may 
yet  be  read  to  much  advantage,  by  thofe 


•236  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

\vho  would  pafs  through  life  happily  and 
and  refpeftecl. 

If  you  are  fond  of  poetry,  be  careful 
to  read  only  what  is  good  of  it.  There  is 
a  kind  of  verification  that  tends  to  debafe 
the  mind  ;— wherever  immortality  or  in- 
-delicacy  is  found,  fuch  mu'ft  ever  be  the 
efied.  Elegance  of  numbers  though  a  re- 
quifite,  is  yet  the  lowed  recommendation 
of  good  poetry  ; —  its  charaderiftics  are 
dignity  of  thought,  purity  of  expreffion, 
and,  above  all,  the  be  ft  principles  of  piety 
and  morality.  For  this  reafon,  thofe  poe 
tical  pieces  extant  in  the  Bible,  are  by  good 
judges,  allowed  to  be  truly  fublime.  Poet 
ry  in  its  original  flate,  being  only  the  har 
monious  effufions  of  a  mind  glowing  with 
elevated  fentiments  of  generofity,  gratitude 
and  devotion.  Many  of  the  Pfalms  are 
noble  compositions,  and  neither  for  beau 
ty  of  figure,  or  energy  of  exprefiicnT  have 
ever  been  excelled. 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  237 

Natural  hiftory  affords  a  delightful  ftu- 
dy — it  is  not  however  expeded  that  you 
fhould  have  a  fyftematic  idea  of  every  ve 
getable,  animal,  or  infeft  ;  but  it  is  un 
pardonable,  for  one  who  is  bleit  with  lei- 
fure  and  opportunity,  not  to  have  at  lead 
a  general  knowledge  of  the  moft  confpicu- 
ous  of  Nature's  works  : — to  be  ignorant  of 
the  beauty  and  properties  of  thofe,  is  to 
wander  over  the  fair  creation,  as  Thomfon 
exprefles  it,  ic  with  brute  unconfcious 
gaze/'  The  curious  and  intelligent  fpec- 
tator  finds  the  variegated  face  of  nature,  a 
fource  of  rational  amufement,  and  reads 
irL  glowing  chara<fters  the  wifdom  of  the 
Deity.  It  is  not  in  fuch  puriuits  that  the 
human  mind  acquires  thofe  illiberal  fen- 
timents  which  fo  often  difgrace  it  ; — all  it 
here  finds  is  noble  and  beneficent,  worthy 
that  Divine  Author,  whom  to  know  and  'a- 
dore,  is  the  proper  glory  of  an  intelligent 
being. 

US 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

Akenfide  has  fo  elegantly  exprefled  the 
pleafures  attending  a  tatte  for  the  iludy  and 
beauties  of  nature,  that  I  will  relieve  you 
from  the  tedioufnefs  of  this  epiflle,by  tran- 
fcribing  a  few  of  his  admired  lines. 

O  !   bled  of  Heaven,  whom  not  the  languid  fongs 

Of  luxury,  the  fyren  !   not  the  bribes 

Of  fordid  wealth,  nor  all  the  gaudy  fpoils 

Of  pageant  honour,  can  feduce  to  leave 

Thofe  ever  blooming  fweets,  which  from  the  ftore 

Of  Nature,  fair  Imagination  culls 
.  To  charm  th'  enlivened  foul !  .What  tho'  not  all 

Of  mortal  offspring  can  attain  the  height 

Of  envied  life  ;  tho'  only  few  poifefs 

Patrician  treafures,  or  imperial  flate  ; 

Yet  Nature's  care,  to  all  her  children  juft3 
-  Endows  at  large  whatever  happy  man 

Will  deign  to  ufe  them. 


» ""For  him  the  fpring 

Diftils  her  dews,  and  from  the  filken  gem 
Its  lucid  leaves  unfolds  ;  for  him  the  hand 
Of  Autumn  tinges  every  fertile  branch 
With  blooming  gold,  and  bluflies  like  the  morn.. 
Each  palling  hour  fheds  tribute  from  her  wings ; 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE;  239 

And  Hill  new  beauties  meet  his  lonely  walk, 
And  loves  unfelt  attract  him. — Not  a  breeze 
Flies  o*er  the  meadow,  not  a  cloud  imbibes 
The  fetting  fun's  effulgence,  not  a  drain 
From  all  the  tenants  of  the  warbling  (hade 
Afcends,  but  whence  his  bofom  can  partake 
Frefh  pleafure  unreprov'd  : — nor  then  partakes 
Frefh  pkafure  only  ;  for  the  attentive  mind, 
By  this  harmonious  action  on  her  pow'rs, 
Becomes  herfelf  harmonious  ;  wont  fo  oft 
In  outward  things  to  meditate  the  charm 
Of  facred  order,  foon  (he  feeks  at  home 
To  find  a  kindred  order,  to  ex  tit 
Within  herftlf  this  elegance  of  love, 
This  fair  infpired  delight  ;  her  temper'^  powers 
Refine  at  length,  and  ev'ry  paffion  wears 
A  charter,  milder^  more  attractive  mein.. 

• Thus  the  men 

Whom  nature's  works  can  charm,  with  God  himfelf 
Hold  converfe  ;  grow  familar  day  by  day 
With  his  conceptions  ;  acl  on  his  plan  ; 
And  form  to  his  the  relifh  of  their  fouls. 


LETTER  VII. 

AMONGST  the  accomplifhments 
neceffary  to  the  female  character,  I  think 
needle  work  may  claim  the  firft  place,  it 
having  fo  clofe  a  connection  with  neatnefs 
which  is  indifputably  requifite  to  render 
you  comfortable  to  yourfelves,  or  amiable 
in  the  efteem  of  others.  The  ladies  of 
the  laft  century  certainly  held  needle-work 
in  much  greater  eftimation  than  thofe  of 
the  prefent ;  witnefs  the  many  laborious 
performances  that  yet  remain  as  proofs  of 
their  amazing  induftry  in  this  refpetft — 
but  the  world  is  ever  prone  to  extremes, 
and  becaufe  this  art  was  then  purfued  to 
the  exclufion  of  every  intellectual  accom- 
plifhment,  there  are  many  in  our  days  who 
feem  to  think  it  beneath  their  fludy  or 
ambition. 

The  Mahometan  fentiment  which  pre 
vailed  fome  years  ag©,  of  the  inferiority  of 
the  female  mind,  feems  exploded  in  this 


RUDIMENTS  OF   TASTE.  24  1 

age  of  univerfal  refinement  :  and  a  wo 
man  of  cultivated  underftanding  is  no 
longer  a  phenomenon.  The  paths  of 
knowledge  are  rendered  acccffible — men 
of  learning  have  (looped  from  the  eleva 
tions  of  fcience  to  accelerate  the  improve 
ments  of  the  other  fex — they  abridge,  com 
pile,  explain  for  their  affiftance  and  ad 
vancement  in  polite  literature. 

Make  all  the  ufe  you  poffibly  can  of 
iuch  advantages,  and  be  convinced  that  the 
cukivaiion  of  the  mind  will  exalt  you- in 
the  eftimaiion  of  rational  beings — will 
open  to  you  exhauftlefs  fources  of  amufe- 
ment  and  delight,  of  which  the  ignorant 
can  have  no  conception.  Yet  be  careful, 
my  dear  girls,  never  to  overlook  one  femi 
nine  grace  or  accomplishment.  There  is 
a  line  of  character  drawn  between  the  iex- 
es,  which  neither  can  pafs  without  becom 
ing  contemptible.  It  is  not  to  make  you 
defpife  thofe  acquirements  which  have  ever 
been  appropriated  to  the  female  fex,  that 


242  RUDIMENTS   OF  TASTE* 

you  are  incited  to  mental  attainments,  but 
to  render  you  ftill  more  valuable  as  wo 
men  ;  and  the  better  your  minds  are  cul 
tivated,  the  more  you  will  fee  the  proprie 
ty  of  attending  to  thofe  minutiae  which  be 
come  the  condition  in  which  Providence 
has  placed  you. 

I  do  not  fee  how  you  can  acquit  your- 
felves  tolerably  in  domeftic  life,  without  a 
knowledge  of  needle- work  ;  but  granting 
your  rank  and  fortune  may  place  you  above 
the  abfolute  neceffity  of  learning  that  part 
of  it  which  is  called  plain  work — yet  cori- 
lider  how  far  the  ornamental  kinds  may  be 
of  ufe  to  amufe  the  intervals  of  pleafures, 
or  other  purfuits,  as  well  as  to  promote  the 
difplay  of  an  elegant  tafte.  Even  our  in 
nocent  amufements  require  variation,  and 
the  mind  may  be  agreeably  relieved,  by 
imitating  with  the  needle  the  beautiful 
productions  of  nature  — but  there  is  fome- 
thing  which  places  a  flcill  in  needle  work  in 
a  much  more  important  point  of  view, 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  243 

and  that  is,  the  inconflancy  of  fortune, 
which  in  her  capricious  moods  has  been 
often  known  to  compel  thofe,  whom  once 
(he  fmiled  on,  to  procure  their  fubfiftence 
by  thofe  very  arts  which  were  acquired 
only  for  amufement. — Whatever  may  be 
a  refource  again  ft  that  mutability  which 
marks  all  human  affairs,  becomes  an  object 
of  importance. 

A  proficiency  in  the  arts  of  domeftic 
management  andoeconomy,  ought  juftly  to 
be  ranked  among  the  accomplifhm^nts  of 
a  young  lady.  You  muft  be  unacquainted 
with  nothing  that  appertains  to  good  houfe- 
wifery.  Some  girls  have  I  known  profefs 
fo  violent  an  attachment  to  literary  pur- 
fuits,  that  they  are  content  to  remain  igno 
rant  of  common  attainments.  This  (hews 
a  pitiable  weaknefs — elevated  minds  are 
attentive  to  every  thing  ;  and,  believe  me, 
it  is  very  poflible  to  poflefs  a  competent 
knowledge  of  polite  literature,  and  be  well 
verfed  in  the  methods  of  well  governing  a 


244  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

ho  rife  at  the  fame  time- — the  latter  quali 
fications  have  of  themfelves  conftituted 
many  an  ufeful  character  in  female  life, 
which  is  more  than  can  be  faid  of  the  for 
mer.  Blend,  therefore,  my  beloved  girls, 
polite  with  ufeful  acquirement,  and  you 
will  be  what  1  wifh  you. 

In  writing,  acquire,  if  poffible,  a  good 
hand,  yet  that  is  not  fo  effentially  neceflary 
as  the  being  able  to  write  grammatically-— 
the  violation  of  the  common  rules  of  gram 
mar,  is  an  indifputable  mark  of  low  breed 
ing  ;  and  although  my  Lord  Cheflerfield 
farcaflically  faid  that  bad  fpeliing  was  only 
allowable  in  a  woman,  it  certainly  is  not 
allowable  in  any  one,  who  pretends  to  an 
education  above  the  vulgar.  Could  you 

write  as  fine  a  hand  as  even  A n  foim- 

felf,  bad  fpeliing  would  difgrace  the  whole. 
The  fubftituting  have  for  has,  are  for  /j, 
&c.  infallibly  links  you  in  the  eftimation 
of  well  bred  perfons.  In  order  to  avoid 
errors  of  this  kind,  habit  is  to  be  particu- 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  £45 

larly  guarded  againft.  If  in  your  early 
years  you  are  not  careful  to  write  and  fpeli 
corredly,  it  is  a  thoufand  to  one  if  you 
ever  do.  You  fee,  therefore,  of  what  con- 
fequence  it  is  that  you  pay  a  prefent  atten 
tion  to  thefe  points. 

I  reckon  among  the  ufeful  attainments, 
the  ability  of  penning  an  epiftle  with  pro 
priety  and  elegance — many  fortunate  cir- 
cumftances  in  life  may  be  facilitated  there 
by — a  well  written  letter  has  often  eft'ed- 
ed  what  verbal  requefls  have  fought  in 
vain — befides  this  confideration,  how  great 
ly  mud  the  fweet  intercourfe  of  friendfhip 
be  improved  by  a  free  and  intelligent  cor- 
refpondence  !  Two  friends,-  though  placed 
at  the  extremities  of  the  globe,  may  thus 
enjoy  all  the  pleafures  of  fuch  a  connec 
tion  ;  but  except  you  attain  the  defirable 
habit  of  expreffing  your  fentiments  with 
out  embarraffment,  hope  not  to  enjoy  any 
thing  of  fo  delicate  a  fatisfadion.  Letters 
fliould  be  the  pidures  of  the  foul ;  and  fo 
V 


246  RUDIMENTS  OF    TASTE. 

they  always  would  be  if  people  acquired 
only  the  fkill  of  expreffing  their  thoughts 
juft  as  they  arife.  Write  as  you  would 
fpeak,  were  the  perfons  you  addrefs  imme 
diately  before  you.  There  is  no  more 
than  this  neceflary  to  eftablifh  that  eafmefs 
of  ftyle  which  is  the  chief  beauty  of  epif- 
tolary  correfpondence.  That  good  breed 
ing  which  I  hope  will  be  habitual  to  you, 
will  dictate  thofe  terms  and  forms  of  ad 
drefs,  the  condition  of  thofe  to  whom  you 
write  requires, — We  do  not  always  find 
the  moft  learned  people  write  the  moft 
agreeable  letters — perhaps  for  no  other 
reafon  than  that  they  take  too  much  trou 
ble  about  it,  and,  like  the  good  Archbifhop 
of  Benevento,  rejed  the  firft  thought  that 
occurs.  Some  that  I  have  known  indite  an 
epiftle  in  fuch  a  (tiff  and  formal  ftyle,  and 
load  it  fo  difguftfully  with  tautology,  that 
one  would  almoft  take  it  for  an  A<5t  of  Par 
liament.  When  you  write  a  letter,  my 
dear  girls,  forget  the  idea  of  pen,  ink  and 
paper — fuppofe  only  you  are  fpeaking  to 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTK.  247 

the  perfon,  and  you  will  write  an  agreea 
ble,  if  not  a  fine  letter — to  effect  the  latter, 
fomething  muft  have  been  effected  by 
dame  Nature — however,  this  I  know — 
that  the  moft  elevated  fentiments  would 
not  look  graceful  in  fuch  competitions,  ex 
cept  accompanied  by  perfecl  eafe  and  ex- 
preffion,  and  have  the  appearance  of  flow 
ing  fpontaneoufly  from  the  heart.  Many 
excellent  models  of  epiftolary  writing  have 
been  recommended  to  young  proficients. 
You  cannot  have  better  than  thofe  afcrlbed 
to  Pope  Ganganelli ; — whoever  was  the 
author,  he  has  certainly  hit  on  that  eafe, 
fprightlinefs  and  elegance,  which  it  is  my 
earned  wifh  may  charaderife  whatever 
falls  from  your  pen.  Would  to  Heaven 
that  all  the  world  poffeffed  the  fame  can 
dor  and  liberality  of  fentiment  which 
breathes  through  every  one  of  thofe  ele 
gant  epiftles. 


LETTER  VIII. 

W  MEN  you  compare  the  auk  ward 
u.i.-tioiis  of  a  ruftic,  with  the  genteel 
and  graceful  movement  of  a  per  ion  of 
education,  you  cannot  but  be  allured  of 
the  utility  of  dancing,  but  it  ftiould  ne 
ver  be  forgotten,  that  to  give  this  fupe- 
riority  of  mein  and  air  is  the  chief  end 
of  that  polite  accomplifnment  ; — to  lofc 
fight  of  this  idea,  is  to  take  away  the 
real  worth  of  that  branch, of  genteel  ed 
ucation  : — to  reduce  it  to  an  unimpor 
tant,  if  not  pernicious  attainment.  How 
ever  a  knowledge  of  dancing  may  fome- 
times  conduce  to  focial  pleafure,  and  in 
that  light  be  efteemed  an  agreeable  and 
innocent  recreation,  I  cannot  help  think 
ing,  that  the  fame  application  that  is  rc- 
quifite  to  form  an  opera  dancer,  may 
very  well  be  difpenfed  with  in  a  young 
lady  of  a  different  character.  The  ex 
travagant  leaps  and  geftures  of  fome  fa- 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

(liionable  females,  make  me  think  of  the 
fpeech  of  Philip  of  Macedon  to  his  fon, 
on  another  occafion — 1  am  ready  to  afk 
if  they  "  are  not  aftiamed  to  dance  fo 
well." 

There  is  fcarcely  a  human  foul,  how 
ever  apparently  dead  to  feniibility,  but 
is  in  fome  meafure  alive  to  the  extatic 
charms  of  mufic.  The  ftory  of  Orphe 
us  is  more  than  a  fable — minds  almoft  as 
inert  and  inanimate  as  trees  themfelves, 
have  been  moved  by  the  power  of  har 
monious  (bunds  : — why  elfe  does  the  gap 
ing  ruflic,  follow  with  fuch  manifeft  de 
light,  the  itinerant  mufician  ;  and  why 
but  that  the  effect  of  mulic  on  the  paf- 
fions  is  fo  inconteflibly  proved,  has  the 
army  adopted  the  fons  of  Apollo  with 
thofe  of  Mars  ?  Since  then  this  icience 
has  fo  great  an  influence  on  the  feelings 
of  the  foul,  is  it  not  fur  prizing  that  the 
polite  world  ihould  not  be  more  ambi 
tious  of  enjoying  thofe  fubiime  fenfatioiis, 
V  2 


250  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

which  the  bcft  pieces  are  fo  abundantly 
capable  of  exciting,  and  not  reft  poorly 
fatisfied  with  the  hike  warm  pleafures  of 
{ing-long,  while  the  noble  compoiitions 
of  great  matters,  lie  bye  totally  difre- 
garded.  Indulge,  my  dear  girls,  a  turn 
for  mufic,  if  nature  has  given  you  fuch  ; 
but  do  not  permit  a  fong  tune,  or  an 
opera  air  to  be  the  limits  of  your  excel 
lence  in  that  enchanting  fcience. 

Drawing,  painting,  fkc.  juftly  form  a 
part  of  polite  education,  becaufe  they  fur- 
nifli  an  agreeable,  as  well  as  rational  amufe- 
inent.  They  lead  to  a  familiarity  with 
the  beauties  of  nature,  and  that  can  fcarce- 
ly  fail  to  advance  the  mind  a  degree  high 
er,  even  to  the  contemplation  of  her  Di 
vine  Author.  But  if  it  had  not  this  hap 
py  tendency,  drawing  is  ftill  a  laudable  a- 
rnufement,  becaufe  an  innocent  one;  and 
whatever  furnrfhes  a  recreation  of  that 
character,  may  certainly  be  deemed  an 
auxiliary  Jo  virtue, 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE,  25! 

An  acquaintance  with  the  languages  of 
palite  nations,  greatly  enlarges  the  mind. 
It  is  the  property  of  ignorance  to  eileem 
nothing  valuable  that  a  foreign  country 
produces  ;  and  fcarcely  to  allow  that  its 
inhabitants  are  human.  Nothing  tends 
more  immediately  to  remove  fuch  illibe 
ral  prejudices,  than  Undying  the  language 
of  the  people  thus  defpifed.  The  fuper- 
cilious  contemner  is  furprifed  to  find  them 
rational,  and  exprefling  iimilar  ideas  with 
tbofe  of  his  own  country. 

If  necefiity  or  inclination  ever  leads 
you  from  your  native  land,  a  previous  ac 
quaintance  with  the  language  of  tbofe  you 
re  fide  among,  would  much  facilitate  your 
pleaiure  and  convenience  ;  would  open 
to  you  the  avenues  of  focial  love  and 
friendfhip,  and  take  off  much  from  thofe 
comfortlefsfenfations  the  mind  is  apt  to 
feel  in  the  idea  of  being  amongft  a  people 
it  knows  not.  For  this  end,  perhaps  it 
may  be  fufficient  to  acquire  a  knowledge 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

of  the  French  tongue,  that  being  general 
ly  underftood  by  intelligent  perfons  of 
every  European  nation.  But  there  is 
another  advantage  attending  this  branch 
of  polite  accomplifhrnent,  and  which  pro 
bably  to  you,  my  dear  girls  will  be  the 
moil  ufeful — I  mean  the  being  able  to  read 
in  their  original,  thofe  beautiful  compofi- 
tions  which  lofe  many  of  their  excellencies 
by  tranflation  ;  for  this  reafon  become  ac 
quainted  alfo  with  the  Italian  :  but  Ho 
mer  and  Virgil  you  tell  me  have  beauties 
that  can  never  be  tranflated — true,  yet 
thefe,  I  fancy,  you  mufi  be  content  to  tafte 
as  pure  as  the  labors  of  the  learned  afford 
them ;  the  Greek  and  Latin  tongues,  form 
ing  no  part  in  the  polite  fyftem  of  female 
education  at  prefent,  nor  certainly  ever 
can  in  the  ufeful. 

Arithmetic  is  a  dry  fludy,  yet  certain 
ly  a  very  ufeful  one,  to  thofe  who  would 
manage  their  affairs  with  ceconomy  and 
prudence  ; — a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 


four  firft  rules,  is  fufficient  to  enable  you 
to  do  it. 

From  a  total  ignorance  of  letters  in 
female  life,  we  are  advanced  to  an  age 
which  requires  every  girl  to  be  made  a 
grammarian  ;  yet  it  unfortunately  hap 
pens,  that  of  the  numbers  who  profefs  to 
have  ftudied  the  grammar  of  their  na 
tive  tongue,  few  fpcak  or  write  it  with 
that  accuracy  which  could  be  wiflied  ; 
indeed  the  progress  that  women  ufually 
make  in  that  fcience,  is  fcldom  of  itfelf 
fufficient  to  give  an  habitual  elegance  of 
expreilton  ;  they  are  more  indebted  for 
it  to  frequent  reading  of  the  bed  authors, 
and  the  converfation  of  thofe  who  have 
themfelves  acquired  it  perfect  ; — what 
you  can,  acquire  of  v  grammar  by  fuch 
adiilances  of  thefe.  There  is  an  indif- 
penfable  neceffity  for  you  to  write  and 
fpeak  Engtifii  correftly  ;  acquire  that 
qualification  as  eafily  as  you  can,  but 
nothing  will  more  facilitate  it  than  the 
methods  I  have  mentioned. 


254  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

Geography  is  a  ftudy  that  will  pleafe 
you  an  hundred  times  better — this  is  not 
like  the  former,  a  fet  of  dry  rules,  but 
almoft  every  advance  you  make  therein, 
will  abundantly  repay  your  pains  by  the 
novelty  of  the  information  it  produces. 
Befidcs,  I  cannot  imagine  how  the  fre 
quent  relations  that  occur  in  common 
difcourfe  will  be  intelligible,  without 
fome  acquaintance  with  this  ftudy.  I  am 
fure  if  you  are  no  geographer,  even  a 
newfpaper  will  be  as  inexplicable  as  an 
Egyptian  hieroglyphic.  Attain  a  com 
petent  knowledge  of  the  globe  on  which 
you  live,  that  your  apprehenfion  of  infi 
nite  wifdom  may  be  enlarged  ;  which  it 
will  be  in  a  much  higher  degree,  if  you 
take  care  to  acquire  a  general  idea  of  the 
ftru&ure  of  the  univerfe.  It  is  not  ex- 
pefted  you  fhould  become  adepts  in  aftro- 
nomy,  but  a  knowledge  of  its  leading 
principles  you  may  and  ought  to  obtain. 
The  French,  with  their  ufual  attention 
to  the  fex,  have  procured  them  a  gentle- 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  255' 

man  uftier,  if  I  may  fo  fpeak,  to  the  pla 
netary  orbs, Fontanelle  introduces 

them  to  an  acquaintance  with  that  bril 
liant  aflembly — it  is  not  the  firft  inftance 
in  which  our  agreeable  neighbours  have 
blended  the  refearches  of  the  fcholar, 
with  the  politenefs  of  a  fine  gentleman. 

Avail  yourfelves  of  fuch  ingenious  af- 
nceSj  and  be  all  your  Cornelia  wifnes. 


LETTER   IX. 

• 

jC\N  accomplished  character,  has  fo 
many  charms,  that  nothing  needs  be  faid 
to  induce  you  to  ivi/b,  at  leaft,  for  its  at 
tainment.  Yet  painful  application  muft 
render  that  wifh  effeflual — a  reflexion 
however  that  fhould  excite  your  emulation, 
rather  than  defpondency — trivial  acquire 
ments  may  content  the  indolent  and  timid, 
but  the  arduous  and  difficult  are  the  pro 
per  aim  of  elevated  minds.  Courage  be 
longs  not  to  the  warrior  alone — it  is  as  of 
ten  found  in  the  clofet,  as  the  field. 

That  refokuion  which  is  neceiTary  for 
every  valuable  purpofe  of  life,  is  the  fruit 
only  of  acflive  minds,  and  was  never  found 
with  indolence  and  (loth  ; — -determine 
therefore  to  conquer  every  tendency  to  an 
inactive  temper.  ^  henever  you  feel  in 
yourfelves  an  inaptitude  for  doing  what 
necelTarily  ought  to  be  done,  rouze  that 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

moment,  or  you  will  give  ground  to  an 
enemy  the  moft  deftrudlive  to  happinefs 
and  virtue ;  and  who  once  entrenched  is 
hard  to  be  diflodged.  Never  defer  to  the 
next  hour,  that  which  fliould  be  the  bufi- 
iiefs  of  the  prefent.  "  Whatever  thy 
hand  iindeth  to  do,  do  it,  with  all  thy 
might,"  faid  a  very  wife  man  many  hun 
dred  years  ago  ;  indeed  there  is  no  pre 
cept  throughout  the  facrecl  writings,  in 
culcated  with  greater  energy  than  this 
of  diligence.  It  is  the  foul  of  virtue — 
the  foundation  of  honor  and  effluence. 

Many  a  bright  and  mining  talent  lies 
hid  in  a  napkin,  for  want  of  activity  to 
unfold  it  ;  nor  do  we  unfrequently  meet 
with  perfcns  ftruggling  with  diftreflc-s, 
which  require  only  their  own  exertions 
to  remove.  Indolence  takes  hold  of  the 
difpoiition  muchoftener'than  is  acknow 
ledged  ;  it  is  pofiible  to  be  wholly  under 
its  dominion,  and  yet  iulpetl  nothing  of 
it  ;  and,  what  is  yet  more  ftrange,  to  be- 
W 


2^  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

lieve  one's  felf  to  be  the   moft  diligent 
perfon    in    the  world   at  the  very  time. 
You  have  feen  numbers  of  bulling  peo 
ple,    who  are  always  in  a  hurry,    and  fo 
perplexed   do  they  appear  with  bufmefs, 
as  never  to  be  able  to  enjoy   a  friend  or 
thcmiclves.      It  would  feern  hard  at  firil 
fight,  to  accufe  them  of  indolence,    and 
yet   they   are   of  all  people    mod  com 
monly    under   its    power  :    for    an    ha 
bitual  diligence    would  fo   comfortably 
arrange  the  affairs  of  life,  that  none  would 
be  found  to  intrude  on  another.     Conii- 
c!er  the   furprifmg  difpatch  with  which 
fome  in  public  ftations,  manage  a  multi 
plicity  of  the  moft  important  concerns  ; 
— to  contemplate  them,    one  would  al- 
moft  conclude,  nothing  too  extenfive  for 
the  compafs  of  the  human  mind  ; — dili 
gence  is  the  charm  which  effedts  it  all. 

In  that  difmal  catalogue  of  difeafes 
which  imbitter  mortality,  not  a  few  owe 
their  exiftence  to  indolence.  The  indi 
gent  labourer  who  toils  for  daily  bread, 


RUDIMENTS  OF  T.ASTE.  259 

knows  nothing  of  that  fad  train  of  ner 
vous  diforders  which  render  life  itfelf 
burdenfoine  to  the  wealthy.  In  fome 
cafes,  poverty  might  jnftly  be  called  a 
bleffiiig.  Great  are  the  achievements 
which  refolution  and  diligence. can  effect: 
— in  nothing  is  their  power  more  confpi- 
cuoufly  feen,  than  in  the  cultivation  of 
the  mind  ;  to  reflecl  on  the  progrefs  of  the 
human  underftanding — -to  compare  the 
refinements  of  philosophy  with  a  ftate  of 
favage  nature— a. Newton,  with  an  inhabi 
tant  of  New  Holland,  we  fhould  alrnoft 
conclude  fome  fupernatural  power  muft 
have  contributed  to  give  the  former  fo  in 
finite  a,  fuperiority  in  the  fcale  of  beings. 
Without  the  quality  I  have  reco.mm ended 
it  could  never  have  been  attained,  for 
though  much  be  owing  to  accidental  ad 
vantages,  fuch  as  the  being  born  in  an  en 
lightened  country  afford,  yet  no  inconfi- 
derable  portion  of  diligence  is  required  to 
render  thefe  advantages  perfonally  effec 
tual-  It  is  this,  my  dear  girls,  that  makes 
them  yours,  and  without  it,  the  foul  will 


*6o  RUDIMENTS   OF   TASTE. 

remain  as  uninformed  as  if   deflined  to  a 
i  where  fcience  never  dans  a  cheering 
beam. 

Ic  may  feem  flrange  to  tell  you  of  old 
nge,  before  you  have  fcarcely  paiTed  your 
infancy  ;  yet  I  muft  not  conceal  from  you, 
that  a  period  will  arrive,  when  exterior  at 
tractions  will  be  no  more  : — when  mental 
acquirements  will  prove  your  higheftlufire 
and  fublimeft  comfort.  However  defpi- 
cable  an  ignorant  woman  appears  at  any 
part  of  her  life,  in  the  decline  of  it  (he  is 
fure  to  become  far  more  contemptible  ;  at 
that  time  it  is  the  improvements  fhe  has 
made  in  early  days,  that  give' dignity  of 
character.  An  old  age  of  cards  neceffari- 
ly  fucceeds  a  youth  of  folly.  Pope  could 
not  have  faid  any  thing  more  deftrudttve 
of  the  infignificancy  of  thofe  ancient  ha 
bits,  than  he  has  expreffed  in  that  concife 
fatire.  If  you  would  avoid  the  contempt 
which  never  fails  to  attend  a  frivolous  old 
age,  you  muft  pafs  a  youth  of  diligence  and 
application. 


RUDIMENTS   OF   TASTE*  261 

But  then  the  pleafures  refulting  from 
it  furpafs  defcription,  the  fatisfadions  of  a 
rich  cultivated  mind  are  only  fully  known 
to  the  happy  pofTeffor  ;  one  of  them,  we 
areaffured,  is  a  noble  independence,  which 
creates,  if  I  may  fo  fpeak,  its  own  happi- 
nefs  ;  is  not  indebted  to  diffipation,  or  the 
caprice  of  others  ;  but  can  derive  from 
itfelf,  exhauftlefs  refources  for  folitude  or 
fociety.  Ordinary  perfons  are  obliged  tg 
fly  from  Ennui  to  the  regions  of  amufe- 
ment,  but  fuperior  beings,  who  have  tra- 
verfed  the  fields  of  ufeful  and  polite  know 
ledge,  can  from  themfelves  ieled  materi 
als  for  the  moll  exquifite  enjoyment. 

Do  you  think  this  an  acquifition  worth 
deftring — then  never  forg'et  that  it  can  be 
obtained  only  by  diligence  and  aclive  in- 
duftry.  Habits  of  indolence  are  deftruc- 
tive  of  every  valuable  attainment,  and 
they  are  as  much  fo  of  happinefs,  as  they 
are  known  to  be  of  virtue. 
W2 


LETTER  X. 


CULTIVATED  minds  have  plea- 
fnres  which  furpafs  the  vulgar  apprehen- 
fion.  They  have  their  pains  a:s  well — 
for  there  is  an  evil  peculiar  to  refined 
feeling,  of  which  the  untaught  ruftic  is 
happily  ignorant.  This  happens  when 
refinement,  or  at  leaft  the  affectation  of 
it,  is  carried  to  fuch  an  extreme,  that 
it  degenerates  into  falfe  delicacy.  The 
fyrnptoms  of  the  malady  are  a  kind  of 
fccret  dilfatisfaftion  with  every  thing — 
the  common  bleifings  of  life  are  defpiied, 
as  inadequate  to  the  refinement  of  their 
ideas,  and  every  petty  flight  augmented 
by  fuch  aquicknefsof  perception ,  as  leads 
them  to  fee  affronts,  when  none  perhaps 
have  been  intended.  And  this  peevifh- 
]y  irritable  temper  they  are  pleafcd  to 
dignify  with  the  name  of  fenfibility,  and 
pique  themfelves  on  a  difpofition  that 
difqualifies  them  for  focial  virtue  or  focial 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

happinefs.       What  pity,   that  a  quality 
meant  to  highten    every    real    bleffing, 
fhouldbeafcribed  to  the  mere  chimera  of 
ailckly  brain!   Never  may  you,  my  dears, 
by  indulging  theie  fi&itibus  feelings,  re 
fine  away  the   felicity  which  a  kind  Pro 
vidence  -fcattersinyourpath  of  life.  Nou- 
rifh  in  your  bofoms  humility  and  good  na 
ture — thefe  will  teach  you  to  make  the 
bed  of  your  lot,  whatever  it  be,  and  give 
a  reliili  to  every  enjoyment — all  is  i'erene 
where  they  refide.     Humility,    by  arro 
gating  nothing  to  herlelf,   remains    un 
hurt  at    the    fuperciiious  (corn  of   igno. 
ranee    or    pride;    and  good-nature,   by 
calling  a  veil  over  the  foibles  of  others,, 
prefents  to  our  view  the  bed  fide  of  this 
motley  fcene. 

Without  doubt,  fuperior  minds  have 
a  quicker  fenfe  of  what  is  beautiful  in 
nature,  or  deferable  in  life,  than  a  pea- 
fant,  whofe  ideas  extend  not  beyond  his 
daily  occupations — perhaps  they  feel  al- 


SC^  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

ib  more  acutely  the  evils  of  their  condi 
tion  ;  yet  theperfons  \vh  noil  by 
this  affected  ienfibility  are  nui  they  who 
have  the greateit  lhare  of  cfflldive  events, 
but  the  idly  fpeculative,  who  being  em 
ployed  to  no  good  pnrpofe,  have  time  to 
nourifh  thofe  artificial  feelings  which 
Nature  knows  nothing  of. 

Senfibility  ! — What  is  it  ? — Is  it  not 
that  delicate  perception  of  natural  and 
moral  beauty,  which  the  Creator  has 
implanted  in  the  foul  to  exalt  its  happi- 
nefs,  and  awaken  its  nobleft  paffions  ? 
How  greatly,  then,  do  they  err  who  fub- 
ftitute  in  the  room  of  this  bed  gift  of 
Heaven,  that  which  is  the  very  weaknefs 
of  humanity,  pride  and  peevifhnefs  ? 

It  is  paying  a  very  poor  compliment 
to  literary  purfuits,  to  fuppofe  they  are 
productive  of  that  foftnefs  which  unfits 
the  mind  for  enduring  the  common  ac 
cidents  of  life.  And  thofe  attainments 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  $5 

are  of  little  value  that  ferve  no  better 
purpofe  than  to  barb  the  arrows  of  mis 
fortune  with  flings  which  the  enlighten 
ed  never  feel.  But  probably  they  who 
dream  of  fuch  effects  are  the  fuperficial, 
who  never  dived  beyond  the  furface  of 
literature,  and  whofe  feeble  intellects  are 
unable  to  digeft  even  the  little  they  have 
imbibed. 

If  you  have  really  made  any  advance 
ment  in  mental  improvement,  it  will  in 
vigorate  the  powers  of  the  foul,  and  in- 
fpire  her  with  that  magnanimity  which 
is  certainly  neceflary  to  the  happinefs 
of  a  being,  who  is  every  moment  expof- 
ed  to  forrow  and  difappointment.  Va 
lue  not  yourfelves  on  any  refinements 
that  are  (hort  of  this  effeft. 

Some,  I  know,  are  even  reftrained 
from  the  exercif :  of  benevolence  by  this 
affectation  of  fenfibility  ;  their  feelings 
are  too  tender  to  bear  with  fcenes  of  dif- 


266  RUDIMENTS.  OF  TASTE. 

trefs,  and  too  refined  for  the  duties  of 
focial  life  ;  they  therefore  keep  at  an 
unfriendly  diftance  from  fociety,  left 
the  ignorance  or  rudenefs  they  there 
may  meet  with,  fhould  wound  their  ex- 
ceffivci  delicacy  ,•  but  how  is  this  obey 
ing  the  injun&ion  of  the  Apoftle,  who 
exhorts  us  to  be  kindly  affeclioned  one 
to  another,  bearing  with  each  others  in- 
firmities  ? 

In  fine,  my  dear  girls,  come  to  the 
feaft  of  focial  life,  accompanied  by  the 
virtues  of  humility  and  charity,  and  you 
will  not  arife  diflatisfied  from  the  enter* 
tainment. 


LETTER  XI. 

HAVE  often  thought  that  the  great 
prevalence  of  vice  arifes  chiefly  from  a 
culpable  weaknefs  of  temper — for  there  is 
nothing  fo  amiable  in  it  that  it  fhould  be 
followed  for  its  own  fake.  It  is  the  mere 
want  of  refolution  that  betrays  fuch  num 
bers  into  the  dreadful  abyfs  of  fin  and  mi- 
fefy. 

"  The  world's  dread  laugh 
"  Scarce  e'en  the  firm  Philofopher  can  bear." 

But,  in  my  opinion  he  muft  be  a  poor 
philofopher  who  cannot,  and  would  have 
made  but  a  forry  figure  in  the  portico  or 
lyceum. 

•  It  is  not  meant  to  inculcate  to  you  a 
boifterous,  imperious  carriage.  May  my 
girls  poffefs  every  feminine  grace  and  vir 
tue,  but  thefe  cannot  be  fupported  with 
out  fome  portion  of  refolnlion.  There  is 


268  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

a  proper  firmnefs,  without  which  neither 
virtue,  happinefs,  or  dignity  of  character 
can  be  long  maintained.  Diftruft  thofe 
who  extol  the  foft  irrefolution  of  the  lex — 
it  is  the  very  rock  on  which  thoufands  of 
deluded  females  have  been  loft. 

Be  pofTefied  of  the  true  principles  of  ho 
nour  and  reditude,  and  dare  to  adhere  to 
them  in  fpite  of  felicitation,  or  that  ftill 
more  powerful  means  of  temptation,  ridi 
cule.  Elrablifh  your  opinions  on  truth  and 
realbn,  and  maintain  them,  when  neceffa- 
ry,  with  firmnefs; — fome  people  give  up 
both  their  faith  and  their  friends,  for  want 
of  refolution  to  defend  them. 

Too  weak  to  think,  too  indolent  to  chufe. 

In  bufmefs,  and  the  affairs  of  life,  a 
proper  firmnefs  is  indifpenfably  neceffary. 
Thofe  who  can  be  influenced  by  every  ad- 
vifer,  or  intimidated  at  every  appearance 
of  difficulty,  rauft  of  courfe  be  defuitory 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

and  unfettled.  They  effe<5t  nothing  of con- 
.  fequence,  becaufe  they  know  not  how  to 
perfevere  in  any  undertaking.  Obftacles 
will  attend  the  belt  concerted  fchemes,  and 
mankind  will  ever  think  differently  about 
them  ;  but  the  truly  wife  will  await  with 
fteady  patience  the  iffue  of  thofe  meafures 
they  have  been  careful  to  found  in  pru 
dence  and  the  moral  fitnefs  of  things. 
Some  will  undertake  nothing,  till  they 
fee  the  path  fmooth  before  them,  and 
attain  almoft  a  certainty  of  fuccefs.  Such 
will  find  their  lives  wafted,  before  they 
have  determined  on  the  plan  of  it.  Thofe 
who  bed  know  the  (late  of  humanity,  will 
be  convinced,  that  to  defign  prudently 
and  aft  firmly,  is  all  that  can  be  done 
by  mortals. 

Without  refolution,  it  will  fometimes 
be  impoflible  to  ad  agreeably  to  the  dic 
tates  of  right  reafon,  and  virtue,  for  thefe 
are  not  always  the  ton  y  and  when  that  is 
the  cafe,  no  inconfiderable  (hare  of  forti- 
X 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

tude  is  requifue  to  repel  the  attacks  of  ri 
dicule  or  amuiement — nor  can  the  trea- 
fures  of  knowledge  be  explored,  without 
a  portion  of  it —  for,  "  there  is  nothing 
truly  valuable  to  be  attained  without  pains 
and  labour."  Difrcayed  at  the  profped,  the 
indolent,  cs  defcribed  by  Solomon,  cry, 
"  a  lion  is  in  the  ftreet" — Rather  may  my 
dear  girls  be  animated  with  a  nobler  ar 
dour,  to  iurmount  every  difficulty  which 
would  retard  their  acquifition  of  merit  and 
felicity.  ParnaiTus  itfelf  was  a  craggy  rock, 
but  then  the  mufes,  dwelt  on  its  top. 

But  if  refolution  be  neceflary  to  the 
attaining  whatever  is  valuable  or  defirable 
in  life,  it  is  no  lefs  fo  to  the  fupporting 
us  under  a  deprivation  of  it.  The  race  is 
not  to  the  fwift,  nor  the  battle  to  the 
ftrong — hence  it  follows,  .that  the  wifeft 
meafures  do  not  always  meet  with  fuccefs, 
nor  can  virtue  itfelf  prevent  the  encroach 
ments  of  afflicfi ion — in  fuch  circumftances 
fortitude  gives  a  dignity  to  fufYering,  and 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  fl"]\ 

tends  alfo  to  alleviate  the  weight  of  it. 
Every  one  knows  the  fentiment  of  the  phi- 
lofopher — "  that  a  good  man  ftruggling 
"  with  adverfity,  is  a  fight  on  which  the 
"  gods  themfelves  might  look  down  with 
"  delight."  However  that  be,  it  is  certain 
that  fuch  a  character  never  fails  to  com 
mand  the  refped  and  veneration  of  man 
kind.  Magnanimity,  of  all  the  qualities 
©f  the  mind,  feems  moll  fecure  of  admi 
ration.  The  Saviour  of  the  world  incul 
cated  it,  when  having  forvvarned  his  difci- 
ples  of  their  approaching  fuiferings,  he 
enjoined  them  to  poffefs  their  fouls  in  pa 
tience.  Patience  is  amongft  the  Chriftian 
duties,  what  magnanimity  is  in  the  lift  of 
heroic  virtues.  They  are  fynonimows 
terms—both  imply  that  calm,  unfhaken 
fortitude,  which  is  at  once  charaderiftic 
of  the  hero  and  the  Chriftian. 

But  do  not  conclude  this  firmnefs  of 
mind — this  laudable  refolution  is  calcula 
ted  only  to  be  admired.  It  is  of  the  high- 


272  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE*. 

eft  a<5Uial  fervice  to  the  unfortunate,  not 
only  by  enabling  them  to  fuftain  the  bur 
den  of  their  fufferings,  but  by  opening  a 
way  to  better  profpecfts.  The  timid  and 
irrefolute  fink  at  the  approach  of  adverfity, 
into  a  defpondency  the  moft "unfriendly  to 
their  affairs,  by  precluding  that  courage 
ous  induftry  which  might  render  them 
more  tolerable;  and  therefore,  by  the  na 
ture  of  things,  'augment  the  very  evils  of 
which  they  complain. 

Cultivate  in  all  circuuiftances  this  in 
nate  conftancy — it  will  aid  you  in  the  at 
tainment  of  every  good  and  valuable  end. 
In  profperity,  will  fecure  you  from  the 
corruptions  of  vanity — impart  dignity  and 
ferenity  to  adverfity.  In  fine,  you  cannot, 
I  think,  but  be  fleady  in  the  praftice  of 
virtue,  if  you  are  firm  in  the  expectation 
ef  its  rewards. 


LETTER  XII. 


.Y  epiftles  to  you,  ray  dear  girls, 
are  written  without  the  leaft  attention  to 
method ;  their  refpective  fuhjeds  have 
more  the  appearance  of  chance,  than  de- 
fig  n  ;  and  therefore,  may  be  juftly  cal 
led  curfory  thoughts  on  various  fubjeds. 
Young  folks,  I  know,  do  not  love  precife 
rules,  and  perhaps  you  deem  the  irregu 
larity  of  my  letters  their  chief  merit.  Al 
low  them,  however,  one  more — that  of 
fincerity,  and  believe  that  the  fentiments 
they  contain,  flow  from  the  heart ;  I  be 
lieve,  I  need  not  add  the  word  fponta- 
neoujly* 

As  I  difclaiin  all  methodical  arrange 
ment  of  my  fubjeds,  I  will  here  give  you 
my  thoughts,  on  that  very  important  part 
of  female  ftudy,  drefs.  Be  not  afraid  thst 
I  am  about  to  confine  you  to  a  primitive 
plairmefs,  though  prcbably,  fucli  a  mode 


274  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

may  be  found  more  advantageous  to  beau 
ty  and  elegance,  than  modern  finery ; 
yet  I  fhall  recommend  that  which  is  at 
once  agreeable  to  fafhion,  and  your  own 
rank  and  circumflances.  To  reconcile 
thefe  three  conditions,  is  no  eafy  tafk,  yet 
herein  lies  a  chief  perfedion  of  the  female 
character ;  few  women  poflefs  the  happy 
art; — yet  thofe  who  do,  muft  be  allowed 
a  very  fuperior  degree  of  merit.  It  is  no 
inconfiderable  trait  in  the  character  of  an 
amiable  young  lady,  that  {he  knows  how 
to  fupport  a  genteel  appearance ;  and  yet 
pay  a  juft  regard  to  the  frugality,  which 
probably  her  limited  circumflances  re 
quire. 

A  fantaftical  and  cxpenfive  turn  in 
drefs,  is  the  certain  mark  of  a  little  mind  ; 
but  that  attention  to  it,  which  principally 
regards  neatnefs,  is  extremely  laudable. 
Refolve  to  be  always  neat,  or  you  can  ne 
ver  be  well-drefied? — a  dirty  ruffle,  a 
lorn  apron,  &e.  are  fufficient  to  difgrace 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  2.75 

the  mofl  fplendid  apparel.  Neatnefs  is  al 
ways  in  your  power,  and  will  always  ren 
der  you  refpeftable  in  whatever  rank  of 
life  you  are  placed  ;  but  finery  without  it 
is  nothing  more  than  a  ridiculous  glare, 
which  is  never  feen  but  with  difgufK 

Fafhion  has  impofed  fome  general 
rules,  which  may  innocently  be  followed 
under  the  reftridions  I  have  mentioned. 
Your  clothes  may  be  made  according  to 
the  mode,  though  the  materials  which 
compofe  them,  be  lefs  coflly  than  if  they 
belonged  to  a  dutchefs.  An  uncouth,  ill- 
fafhioned  habit,  derogates  even  from  the 
importance  of  a  philofopher;  and  it  is  not 
till  after  a  near  acquaintance,  that  merit  is 
difcovered  through  a  (liabby  garment — 
fo  much  are  mankind  governed  by  appear 
ance. 

11  Prithee  good  Xenocrates  (faid  Plato 
to  his  pupil)  facrifice  to  the  graces."  That 
great  man  knew  how  much  the  mental  ac- 


2y6  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

complifliments  might  be  iliuftrated  and 
adorned  by  a  pol:ihed  exterior  ; — a  wife 
perfon,  it  is  true,  would  not  make  this  al 
together  the  criterion  of  merit,  yet  per 
haps,  would  not  readily  look  for  worth  be 
neath  an  ungraceful  exterior. 

After  all,  my  dear  girls,  efteem  the 
frivolous,  though  often  troublefome  arts 
,  of  drefs,  but  as  a  tax  you  are  in  fome 
fort  obliged  to  pay  to  the  folly  of  the  age. 
Remember  on  all  occalions,  that  external 
ornaments  cannot  make  you  better  or  hap 
pier  women.  Great  minds,  however  they 
may  have  judged  it  necefiary  to  conform 
to  infigniricant  "cuftoms,  have  always  re 
garded  them  in  their  proper  light,  The 
attention  fuch  are  feen  to  fhew  to  the  idol 
faftiion,  is  only  a  good  natured  condefceti- 
iion  to  the  weaknefs  of  mankind,  in  points 
they  judge  of  an  indifferent  nature,  and 
much  too  trifling  to  become  the  objects  of 
their  ferious  cares.  The  filly  and  ignor 
ant  are  they  who  love  drefs  for  its  own  fake. 


LETTER  XIII. 


EXT  to  our  own  principles,  we 
are  to  regard  thofe  of  our  companions  ; 
for  they  are  almoft  of  as  much  impor 
tance  to  us,  as  by  long  and  intimate  ac 
quaintance  they  generally  become  our 
own.  Virtuous  habits  are  ftrengthened 
by  example — fo  are  vicious  ones,  but  in 
a  much  h'-ghcr  degree  ;  nothing  there 
fore  can  be  a  point  of  greater  confe- 
quence  than  the  choice  of  companions. 

A  great  deal  has  been  written  on  the 
fubjeft,  and  every  one  who  has  the  care 
of  youth,  fails  not  to  inculcate  the  keep 
ing  good  company  ; — the  only  misfor 
tune  is,  that  the  term  has  feldotn  been 
fufficiently  explained,  and  the  young 
mind  is  left  to  annex  to  it  the  ideas  of 
birth  and  fortune,  till  by  degrees  the  cx- 
preffion  is  fuppofed  to  imply  both  thefe 
qualifications. 


2y  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

The  refult  has  been  the  diilurbance 
of  all  order  in  focial  life  ; — each  clafs  of 
people  quitting  their  own  fphere  to  a£ 
fociate  with  thofe  of  fuperior  rank  ;  and 
thefe  again,  infpircd  by  the  fan,ie  fenti- 
ment,  repel  with  (corn  the  ambitious  at 
tempt  folicitous  only  to  attract  the  no 
tice  of  ftill  greater  folks  than  themfelves. 
Thus  in  the  room  of  that  focial  amity 
with  which  the  human  heart  (hould  over 
flow,  it  is  unhappily  divided  between 
the  throbbings  of  ambition,  and  the 
pangs  of  offended  pride, 

It  is  evident,  that  in  this  buftle,  great 
er  attention  is  paid  to  the  accidental  cir- 
cumfiances  of  rank  and  affluence,  than 
to  real  merit ;  we  fliould  not  elfe  fo  of 
ten  fee  people  of  the  middling  rank, 
when  flattered  by  the  notice  of  a  fupe 
rior,  fo  elated  with  the  honour  of  keep 
ing,  what  they  call  good  company  ; 
when  perhaps,  that  fuperior  is  confpicu- 
ous  for  ahnoit  every  vice  and  meanncfs. 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

This  is  a  grand  miftakc  iurely — as  fatal 
to  happine-:^    as  to  morals. 

Good  company  can  only  mean  perfons. 
of  noble  fentiments,  refined  manners,  and 
enlightened  underftandings.  But  thefe 
qualities  are  not  to  be  expected,  where  the 
learnings  of  fortune,  has  abfolutely  exclud 
ed  the  means  of  education  ;  for  the  human 
mind  becomes  every  thing  by  culture.  It 
is  therefore  found,  that  in  the  lower  ranks 
of  fociety,  where  poverty  has  denied  time 
and  abilities  for  that  happy  employ,  the 
worft  habits,  and  moft  depraved  morals 
prevail  ;  for  this  reafon  you  are  not  to 
chufe  companions  from  fuch  a  clafs. 

In  fine,  your  aflbciates  muft  be  thofe 
of  a  liberal  and  virtuous  education.  It 
may  happen  you  may  find  a  friend  of  this 
defcription,  whofe  relative  or  neceffary 
connection,  may  not  be  eligible  for  you. 
In  this  cafe  (he  is  by  no  means  a  proper 
companion,  as  her  own  merit,  however 


280  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

great,  will  not  compenfate  for  the  danger 
you  incur  in  frequently  mingling  with  per- 
fons  of  improper  charader. 

A  cultivated  mind  is  the  proper  foil 
for  every  moral  and  focial  virtue — it  is 
moft  likely  to  be  found  where  Heaven  has 
beftowed  an  eafy  fortune,  confequently 
the  genteeler  ranks  of  life  will  be  moft 
likely  to  afford  you  proper  companions. 
But  here  let  merit  alone,  and  not  adven 
titious  circumftances,  influence  your  felec- 
tion — defpife  that  contemptible  weaknefs 
which  piques  itfelf  on  the  rank,  rather  than 
the  mental  value  of  an  acquaintance  ;  and 
never  let  a  principle  of  vanity  lead  you  to 
the  fervile  imitation  of  vice  or  folly,  how 
ever  farufHoned  by  wealth  or  titles.  Little 
minds  are  ever  dazzled  by  (hew  and  fplen- 
dour — it  is  the  property  of  the  enlighten 
ed  only  todiftinguifh  peifonal  worth  from 
external  advantages.  I  fhould  think  you 
difgractd  by  an  acquaintance  with  anEm- 
pre-s,  if  (he  was  not  as  much  diftinguifhed 
by  virtue  as  power. 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  281 

Be  careful  not  to  form  an  acquaintance 
too  haflily — many  a  virtuous  girl  has  funk 
for  ever  in  the  efleem  of  the  world,  by  be 
ing  feen  in  company  with  thofe  of  doubt 
ful  reputation.  In  vain  fhe  declares  her 
ignorance  of  the  real  character  of  her  com 
panions.  She  having  admitted  them  to 
her  fociety  without  the  requifite  invefti- 
gation  of  that  point,  infallibly  renders  her 
own  prudence  fufpected. 

A  very  extenfive  acquaintance  is  not 
neceflary  to  focial  happinefs.  A  few  fe- 
led  friends  will  mod  conduce  to  that  end; 
and  it  is  among  thefe  that 

<•<  The  free  full  converfe  of  the  friendly  heart" 

flows  with  uninterruption  and  delight — 
unfeigned  chearfulnefs  and  real  enjoy 
ment  exift  much  oftener  in  thefe  little 
circles,  than  in  large  and  ceremonious  af- 
femblies.  But  fhould  your  flation  in  life 
render  a  large  acquaintance  unavoidable, 
Y 


282  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

you  will  obferve  to  all,  a  free  unreftrain- 
ed  politenefs,  without  admitting  every  one 
indifcriminately  to  your  confidence.  Be 
ever  frank  and  eafy,  without  revealing 
your  own  fecrets,  or  thofeof  your  friends, 
and  make  none  your  intimates  but  thofe  of 
worth  and  honour. 

Much,  very  much  of  human  happinefs 
depends  on  the  proper  choice  of  acquain 
tance — an  ill  chofen  friend  has  power  to 
mar  our  felicity  as  much  as  an  amiable  and 
faithful  one  contributes  to  it.  The  heart 
is  formed  for  focial  intercourfe  ;  and  when 
that  intercourfe  is  founded  on  the  moral, 
and  religious  virtues,  it  gives  a  zeft  to 
the  other  enjoyments  of  life. 


LETTER  XIV. 

» 

HERE  are  certain  reftri&ions  ne- 
cefTary  to  render  the  gift  of  fpeech  what 
the  great  Creator  defigned  it — a  princi 
pal  means  of  happinefs  to  hisrationl  crea 
tures.  The  iirft  of  thefe  is  an  habitual 
care  never  to  violate  the  laws  of  truth. 
The  pleafures  refulting  from  mutual  con-  • 
verfation  vanifh  entirely,  when  no  de 
pendence  can  be  placed  in  the  fpeaker's 
veracity.  Thofe  who  fpeak  merely  from 
the  fuggeftions  of  imagination,  or,  what 
is  worfe,  malignity,  are  juftly  charge 
able  with  half  the  ftrife  that  diiiurbs  the 
peace  of  fociety.  Such  perfons  are  the 
moil  dangerous  companions,  arid  need 
only  to  be  known  to  be  generally  difpif- 
ed  and  avoided.  Indeed,  ib  high  a  re 
gard  veracity  obtains  among  people  of 
refinement,  that  you  cannot  ofFe,  a.  more 
grofs  affront  than  to  accufe  them  of  the 
violation  of  it. 


284  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

Of  all  that  has  been  fa  id  in  admira 
tion  of  Cato's  character,  nothing  reflects 
fo  grea?  a  luflre  on  it,  as  that  linking, 
though  tacit  eulogiurn,  beftowed  on  him 
in  one  of  the  Roman  Courts  of  Judica 
ture,  where  a  caufe  being  to  be  tried 
which  required  two  witneiTes,  and  one 
only  appearing,  the  Judge  declared  he 
could  not  ciifpenfe  with  the  law,  even 
though  Cato  hlmfdf  ivere  the  tuitne/s. 

Befides,  as  Archbifhop  Tillotfon  fine 
ly  .obferves,  a  conftant  adherence  to 
truih  has  the  lead  trouble  and  difficulty 
in  it,  it  fits  always  upon  the  lips  ;  where 
as  a  lye  is  troublefome,and  needs  a  great 
many  more  to  make  it  good. 

Next  to  the  character  of  a  liar,  that 
of  the  detradter  is  the  mofl  odious — a 
habit  of  traducing  the  reputation  of 
others,  by  fpeaking  all  the  ill  we  have 
heard  of  them,  or  putting  the  word  con- 
itru£tionsoLi  their  aftions,  is  totally  op- 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  2^ 

polite  to  the  fpiritof  Chriftianity,  which 
breathes  nothing  but  candour  and  cha 
rity.  There  is  alto  fomething  extreme 
ly  mean  in  the  practice,  as  the  accufed 
perfons  have  leklom  an  opportunity  of 
refuting  the  charge.  The  cruel  alper- 
iioii  is  borne  on  the  wings  of  fcandal 
from  circle  to  circle,  nor  perhaps  reach 
es  the  injured  party  till  the  wound  given 
to  reputation  is  too  deep  for  cure. 

Barbarous  as  Rich  a  cuflom  is,  I  need 
not  fay  how.  greatly  it  prevails  in  almoft 
all  companies.  I  have,  however,  the 
charity  to  believe  it  does  not  al  ways  pro 
ceed  from  malice  or  envy.  When  no 
knowledge  has  been  treafured  up  in  the 
mind — no  ufeful  information  acquired, 
converfation  cannot  receive  aid  from  in- 
telleftual  ftores — what  then,  muft  be 
come  of  it? — muft  it  flag  and  filence — 
dreadful  iilence  reign  ? — No,  fomething 
rnuft  re-kindle  it  ;  and  when  no  ration 
al  fubjedt  ariies,  that  fomething  muft  be 
Y2 


286  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

fcandal.  This,  though  it  maybe  a  pal 
liation  of  the  crime,  is  yet  no  excule  ; 
for  the  wounds  given  by  unmeaning  ig 
norance  are  as  deep  as  thofe  inflicted  by 
premeditated  rancour.  How  fhameful 
is  it  that  an  impertinent  eagernefs  for 
talking  ftiould  thus  wantonly  explore 
the  fecret  receffes  of  domeftic  life,  and 
prefume  to  judge  of  aftions,  the  motives 
of  which  cannot  be  fcanned  by  thefe  ig- 
corant  prattlers ! 

The  moll  effectual  way  to  fecure 
yourfelves  from  the  comrniffion  of  this 
vice,  will  be  the  adorning  your  minds 
with  fuch  acquifitions  of  knowledge,  and 
ufeful  intelligence,  as  will  enable  you  to 
furnifti  ibbjefts  for  converfation,  with 
out  defcending  to  frivolity  or  detraction. 
But  (hould  you  not  be  fo  happy  as  to  pof- 
fefs  thefe  defirable  refources,  I  hope  you 
will  have  fo  much  candour  and  good 
nature  as  to  be  content  with  being  ac 
counted  a  dull  and  lifelefs  companion, 
rather  than  indulge  an  eagernefs  for  talk- 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  287 

ing  at  the  expence  of  other  people's  good 
name, 

Detra&ion  is  not  only  a  violation  of 
the  rules  of  religion,  but  is  alfo  fo  impo 
litic  a  crime,  as  no  one  who  wiihes  to 
be  well  received  in  the  world  would 
ever  commit— for  a  perfon  who  is  ad 
dicted  to  fcandal,  is  a  terror  to  ibciety  ; 
the  refpeft  they  receive,  refembles  the 
homage  the  Indians  are  faid  to  pay  to 
the  Devil,  rather  to  evade  his  maligni 
ty,  than  procure  his  love.  And  how 
ever  curiofity  may,  for  a  while,  liftea 
to  an  ill-natured  anecdote,  yet  be  affur- 
ed,  the  relator  is  regarded  with  a  fecret 
difguft  by  every  benevolent  perfon,  who 
naturally  experts  to  meet  the  fame  cen- 
forious  fate,  when  opportunity  ferves. 

Good  policy  will  therefore  correct  a 
cenforious  difpofition  ;  yet,  I  truft  your 
reftraint  will  be  derived  from  a  fuperior 
motive,  namely,  the  obligations  of  reli 
gion,  which  forbid  to  fpeak  evil  of  any, 


238  RUDIMENTS  QF  'TASTE. 

or  to  judge  uncharitably  of  another.  The 
confciouthefs  of  having  always  obeyed 
thefe  divine  injunctions,  v,  ill  ailord  the 
conlblatton,  under  the  pain  you  may 
perhaps  feel  from  the  unjuil  afperfions 
of  others — for  fuch,  probably,  you  will 
meet  with  in  your  journey  of  life,  as  no 
innocence  can  always  be  a  defence  from 
unmerited  cenfure;  and  when  this  chan 
ces  to  be  your  cafe,  you  will  derive  un- 
fpeakable  comfort,  from  the  reflection 
of  having  treated  the  world  more  gene- 
rouily  than  it  has  treated  you. 

Whatever  you  fay,  fliould  be  meant 
for  the  entertainment  or  inftrutUon  of 
tiie  company,  rather  than  the  gratifica 
tion  of  vanity.  Many  are  fo  much  actu 
ated  by  felt-love,  that  they  never  fpeak 
or  adt,  but  to  be  applauded.  Hence  ari- 
fes  affectation — the  moll  difgufting  qua 
lity  in  nature.  Diliver  your  fentiments 
as  they  occur,  without  affeCting  more 
graces  in  your  tone  or  geliure  than 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE*  289 

are  your  own — thefe,  well  managed, 
will  be  enougli  to  render  you  amiable. 
All  may  be  agreeable  in  their  natural 
fphere,  but  when  they  innovate  on  that 
of  others,  the  attempt  is  commonly 
fruftrated. 

Above  all,  never  affeft  that  kind  of 
wit  which  aims  at  fevere  retorts  and  re 
partee — it  lias  generally  ill-nature  for  its 
bails,  and  (eldom  makes  a  Tally  but  it 
procures  an  enemy,  if  it  does  net  lofe  a 
friend.  There  is  nothing  in  it  to  be  ad 
mired  but  the  readinefs  of  thought, 
which  gives  it  birth — but  when  the  qua 
lity  feems  aimed  at,  rather  than  poffeffed, 
it  is  abfolutcly  contemptible. 

In  fine — fincerity;  candour,  and  good 
fcnfe,  mnft  be  the  ornaments  of  your 
converfaUon.  Politenefs  will  give  an 
agreeable  ludre  to  thefe  qualities,  but 
remember,  it  can  never  be  a  fubftitute 
for  them. 


LETTER  XV. 

JnLAIL  politenefs,  power  divine  !" 
fays  the  fonnet,  and  furely  no  necefTary 
invocation  ;  for  politenefs,  dear  girls,  is 
the  friend  of  focial  happinefs  and  dome- 
ftic  peace  ;  if  it  was  the  fafhion,  in  this 
age,  to  have  houfehold  gods,  I  would 
furelygiveit  a  pre-eminent  place  amongft 
them. 

I  know  not  how  it  happens,  but  peo 
ple  fcem  to  think,  they  are  obliged  to 
be  polite  every  where  but  at  home — 
and  there  it  is  they  are  mod  required  to 
be  fo  ;  for  the  refined  fatisfadtion  of  fo 
cial  intercourfe, cannot  long  fublift  with 
out  it.  I  am  convinced,  that  domeflic 
quarrels  and  difgufbs,  would  much  lel- 
domer  arife,  if  the  parties  were  always 
as  polite  as  affectionate. 

But  what  is  poiitenefs — is  it  the  law 
of  faPaion,  or  a  fyftem  of  rules? — No — 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

it  is  the  divine  principle  of  benevolence, 
branched  into  a  thoufand  little  chan 
nels,  and  flowing  through  all  the  mi 
nutiae  of  human  life.  Education  may 
improve,  but  can  never  give  it,  for  it 
muft  be  founded  in  the  foul,  or  is  never 
feen  in  full  perfection.  A  painter  may 
learn  the  rules  of  defign,  and  the  com 
pendium  of  colours  ;  but  if  he  pofieiTes 
not  the  enthufiafm  of  the  art,  his  pic 
tures  will  be  lifelefs  and  infipid. 

i  Politcnefs  is  that  amiable  difpofition, 
which  delights  in  the  happinefs  of  others 
— confults  their  eafe — prevents  their 
wants — and  yields  them  every  poffible 
convenience.  This  is  the  fource  of  thofe 
civilities  and  attentions,  which  diftin- 
guifti  a  well-bred  pcrfon — without  it, 
etiquette  dwindles  into  unmeaning  cere 
mony. 

You  perceive  then,  that  not  only  an 
attention  to  external  graces,  but  a  regu- 


2p2  RUDIMENTS   OF   TASTE. 

lation  of  the  difpofition  is  neceffary  to 
conftitutc  a  polite  perfon.  Acquire  the 
amiable  temper  I  have  defcribed,  and 
you  will  infallibly  pleafe  with  that  na 
tive  eafe  which  is  thought  fo  requifite 
to  be  attained,  that  the  world  has  fub^ 
flituted  in  its  room  its  wretched  refem- 
blance,  effrontery  : — but  no  more  like 
the  amiable  original,  than  an  ordinary 
ftatue  to  the  Venus  of  Medicis. 

I  have  often    thought,   that  the  beft 
Chriftian  is  likely  to  be  the  mo  ft  polite 
perfon.   This  is  an  aflertion  you  have  not 
been  ufed  to  hear,  yet  may  well  enough 
be  warranted  by  the  tenor  of  the  gofpel 
precepts,  which  inculcate  the  being  ten 
der  of  another's  weaknefs — to  prefer  each 
other  in  honor — to  give  refpeft   where 
due — with  others  to    the  like  purpofc. 
Now  if  thefe  excellent  lefTons  contain 
(as  I  think  will  be  allowed)  the  fubftance 
of  what,    at  this  clay,  is  termed  good 
breeding.    St.   Paul    muft    be    a   better 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  293 

teacher  than  my  lord  Chefterfield  him- 
felf,  fmce  he  breathes  the  enlivening 
fpirit,  without  which  the  ceremonial 
code  is  a  lifelefs  fyftem,  calculated  per 
haps  to  difguife  the  heart,  but  not  to  add 
one  iota  to  the  real  happincfs  of  focial 
life. 


LETTER  XVI. 

NOTHING  is  more  talked  of  than 
religion — nothing  lefs  underilood — with 
out  comprehending  what  it  really  is,  the 
fpirit  of  bigotry  would  arrogate  the  whole, 
nor  allow  of  its  being  without  the  contra 
cted  pale  of  a  particular  fed. 

I  have  j ufter  notions  of  religion — fee 
it  as  it  is — not  a  mode  of  ceremonies,  but 
a  divine  principle  influencing  the  whole 
moral  conduit;  its  finaple,  fixed  and  de 
terminate  fenfe,  is  briefly  love  of  God, 
and  good  will  to  mankind.  This,  dear 
girls,  is  the  fum  of  all  religion;  without  it, 
vain  were  the  oblations  of  the  Jewifh 
church — vain  are  the  ceremonials  of  the 
Chriftian. 

The  "  love  of  God,"  is  an  expreffion 
that,  of  late  years,  has  been  as  groflly  abu- 
fed  as  the  word  religion.  Strange  as  it  may 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

appear,  there  have  been  thofe,  who  lead 
ing  the.  mod  immoral  lives,  have  ftiled 
themfelves  the  lovers  of  the  God  of  puri 
ty — whofe  tongues  could  utter  a  pious  eja 
culation,  while  their  hands  were  com 
mitting  the  moft  flagitious  crimes.  But 
be  not  deceived — this  exalted  character 
belongs  neither  to  bigotry  irj-r  enthufi- 
aftn.  The  love  of  God  is  not  a  paffion, 
but  a  rational  principle;  it  is  thofe  fenti- 
nients  of  reverence  and  gratitude,  which 
naturally  arife  in  a  generous  mind  when 
reflecting  on  one  fuprerne  beneficent  pow 
er,  who  is  the  immediate  author  of  ail 
good,  and  the  fountain  of  all  perfeflion. 
This  convidion  is  the  parent  of  unaffect 
ed  piety;  the  foul  cannot  but  adore  the 
Being  {he  believes  to  be  all-wife,  almigh 
ty,  and  eternal; — £he  cannot  but  love 
him  who  is  the  fource  of  unnumbered 
bleffings;  »or  chufe,  but  dread'  to  offend 
him  whofe  nature  ftie  believes  to  be  holi- 
nefs.  Hence  the  fource  of  moral  virtue — 
fin  is  avoided,  becaufe  difpleafing  to  the 


2g  RUDIMENTS  OF    TASTE. 

will  of  the  Deity;  and  virtuous  difpofi- 
tions  are  acquired,  becaufe  agreeable  to  a 
Power  who  is  able  to  reward  every  endea 
vour  to  pleafe  him,  with  eternal  and  un- 
fpeakable  happinefs. 

Such  a  filial,  rational  love,  muft  be  the 
fruit  of  every  mind  that  is  not  ignorant 
of  the  being  and  attributes  of  God  5— or 
that  has  not  received  from  bigotry  or  fu- 
perftition,  any  miflaken  notions  of  him. 
To  prevent  being  difturbed  by  the  fpiri- 
tual  pride  of  hypocritical  fanatics,  remem 
ber  there  is  an  invariable  teft  by  which 
you  may  know  if  you  have  the  love  of 
God.  Afk  your  own  heart,  if  it  feeks 
the  favour  of  the  Deity  above  every  other 
confideration?  If  it  values  this  more  than 
itsdeareft  interefts,  and  even  life  itfelf,  a 
ready  affirmative  puts  the  queftion  out  of 
all  doubt.  » 

Be     affured,     my  dear    girls,    that 
nothing  fo   highly  elevates  and  adorns 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

the  human  character,  as  a  fteady  ration 
al  piety — nor  is  any  thing  capable  of 
yielding  fo  pure  and  exalted  a  happinefs 
to  the  foul,  as  an  habit  of  devotion.  No 
one  who  has  experienced  the  viciffitude 
of  fublunary  things,  but  muft  highly  value 
the  privilege  of  pcfTeffing  a  friend,  that 
would  at  all  times  be  acceptable — ready 
to  -hear  the  complaints  of  affliftion,  and 
all  powerful  to  relieve  them. 

Such  a  friend  you  may  enjoy  in  the 
Divine  Being  ;  of  what  confequence  is 
it  then  that  you  acquire  a  tafte  for  the 
exercifes  of  devotion  ;  that  you  cultivate 
$  friendfhip  with  heaven,  and  accuftom 
your  hearts  to  talk  with  God.  This  is 
an  emphatical  expreilion  of  David,  and 
gives  you  an  idea  of  rational  and  fmcere 
prayer — which  confifts  not  in  formal 
addrefles,  but  is  the  genuine  language 

of  the  heart.       Such  a  divine  intimacv 

* 

hasfomething  in  it  extremely  fuitable  to 
the  noblefb  fenfations  of  the  foul ;  and 
Z  2 


2g8  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

therefore  may  well  be  fought  after  as  a 
fource  of  refined  and  exquifite  felicity. 
In  trouble,  you  will  find  it  more  precious 
than  the  balm  of  Gilead — it  will  fhed  a 
ray  of  facred  peace  when  the  dark  clouds 
of  adverfityobfcure  your  path — in  death. 
But  here  my  pen  mud  ftop — there  can 
be  no  doubt  but  at  that  final,  that  awful 
period,  the  divine  attachment  breaks 
forth  into  a  feraphic  fiame. 


LETTER  XVII. 

JL  HE  generality  of  people  fiyle  them- 
felves  Chriftians,  without  underffanding 
the  value  or  the  neceflky  of  chrifiianity  ; 
and  perhaps  neither  the  one  nor  the  other 
can  be  feen  in  a  proper  light,  without 
taking  a  comparative  view  of  the  human 
foul  before  and  after  the  fall. 

It  is  not  for  my  humble  pen  to  illuftrate 
the  excellency  of  a  fyftem  which  has  God 
himfelf  for  its  author — nor  is  it  my  defign 
to  attempt-a.tafk  fo  far  above  my  abilities  : 
yet  that  you  may  not  wholly  take  your  re 
ligion  upon  truft,  I  would  call  your  atten 
tion  to  what  man  was  when  firft  created,. 

But  a  little  inferior  to  angels,  his  reafon 
was  clear,  his  foul  all  purity,  and  his  mind 
all  intelligence — fit  companion  for  natures 
wholly  fpiritual,  and  enjoying  the  moft 
familiar  intercourfe  with  them.  That 


30O  RUDIMENTS  OF   TASTE. 

grand  queftion  which  has  fince  agitated 
the  fchools  of  philofophy,  of  what  was  the 
chief  good  of  man,  was  all  apparent  to  the 
firft  of  the  human  race  :  he  law  perfectly 
clear,  that  it  confided  in  the  entire  aflimi- 
lation  of  his  will  to  that  of  the  Deity — and 
in  the  purfuit  found  a  full  unmixed  felici 
ty.  But  he  was  created  with  the  power 
of  doing  otherwife,  or  where  would  have 
been  the  merit  of  obedience  ?  The  duty 
of  free  agency,  mull  be  far  preferable  to 
that  which  arifes  from  blind  neceffity. 

Adam  continued  a  happy  being  as  long 
as  his  will  remained  confonant  to  that  of 
his  Maker ;  but  at  the  inftant  it  deviated 
therefrom,  he  fell  from  happinefs  and  per 
fection.  The  concifenefs  of  the  fcripture 
hiftory,  leaves  unthinking  minds  in  doubt 
as  to  the  nature  of  Adam's  tranfgreffion, 
but  undoubtedly  it  originated  in  the  mere 
defire  of  doing  contrary  to  the  divine  com 
mand  ; — he  forgot  that  the  Diety  was  his 
happinefs,  and  he  fought  it  in  his  own  will. 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

It  was  herein  he  finned,  and  not  fimply 
by  eating  the  forbidden  fruit,  for  at  the 
very  moment  Adam  became  capable  of 
imagining  there  might  be  a  good  abftraft 
from  the  favour  of  God — that  moment  he 
fell. 

The  Creator  faw  at  one  comprehenfivc 
view,  the  miferies  which  would  accrue  to 
mankind,  from  the  voluntary  perverlion 
of  the  intellectual  and  moral  powers; — 
then  was  the  fcheme  of  Chriilianity  devif- 
ed,  as  an  effectual  means  of  refloring  hu 
man  nature  to  the  happinefs  and  perfection 
it  originally  poffefled.  The  purpofed 
Ceding  was  gracioufly  announced  in  that 
prediction,  that  the  pofterity  of  Eve  ihould 
crufli  the  ferpent's  head. 

The  human  reafon  thus  clouded,  it  is 
almoil  furpriling  to  refled  by  what  rapid 
fteps  the  world  became  immerfed  in  the 
worft  ignorance  and  vice.  Thofewho  dill 
retained  fome  idea  of  the  Sovereign  Crea- 


3O2  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

tor,  had  recourfe  to  a  -viable  fymbolofhis 
Majefty ;  for  their  intelledual  faculties 
were  too  grofs  to  apprehend  an  immateri 
al  Deity — it  foon  happened  that  the  fym- 
bol  itfelf  was  made  the  object  of  divine 
worfhip  ;  and  hence,  doubtlefs,  the  origin 
of  idolatry,  which  in  the  time  of  Abraham 
had  fo  generally  fpread  over  the  earth, 
that  it  appeared  neceffary  10  the  Supreme 
Governor  of  the  Univerfe  to  call  that  good 
man  from  his  country  and  his  kindred  to 
ordain  him  the  father  of  a  nation  ;  who 
being,  by  numerous  and  peculiar  laws,  fe- 
parated  from  the  reft  of  the  world,  might 
preferve,  uncorr-upr,  the  knowledge  of  the 
Divine  Nature.  The  Bible  will  convince 
you  how  ineffectual,,  not  only  thefe  laws, 
but  the  frequent  and  fignal  manifeftations 
of  Almighty  power  were  to  fecure  that 
people  from  the  groffeft  idolatry,  the  rights 
©f" which  were  now  become  fo  terrible  to 
the  imagination,  that  they  even  burnt  their 
children  alive,  in  facrifices  to  their  horrid 
idols.  What  a  pitfure  is  here  of  human 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  303 

nature  !  that  nature  which  once  fo  nearly 
approached  the  angelic  !  Do  you  not  be 
gin  to  fee  the  neceffity  of  a  Redeemer  ? 
Let  us  purfue  the  thread  of  hiftory,  and 
take  a  fuperficial  view  of  the  moft  cele 
brated  nations  which  peopled  the  earth 
before  the  glorious  aera  of  his  appearance. 

The  Egyptians  were  very  earlyefteem- 
ed  for  learning,  laws  and  arts — they  were 
a  numerous,  powerful,  and  wealthy  people, 
but  fo  grofsly  idolatrous,  that  they  not  on 
ly  worshipped  images,  but  beafts,  infedls, 
and  even  vegetables.  The  manufactures 
and  extenfive  commerce  of  Phoenicia,  fup- 
pofe  fome  advance  in  refinement — but 
national  intercourfe  in  thofe  wretched 
times  ferved  but  to  promulgate  national 
idolatries.  Babylon,  that  mighty  feat  of 
empire  furpaffed  moft  other  nations  in  the 
fuperb  materials  of  her  Gods.  Aflrono- 
mers  there  obferved  the  motions  of  the 
Heavens,  and  bowed  in  adoration  to  the 
fplendid  hofts  that  adorned  them.  Cyrus, 


304  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

who  ere<5led  the  Perfian  on  the  ruins  of 
the  Babylonifti  Monarchy,  knew  nothing 
of  the  Almighty  Being  who  named  him, 
an  age  before  he  had  exiftence,  as  the  in- 
ftrument  of  Liberty  to  his  captive  people. 
Alexander,  who  in  his  turn  fubverted  this 
extenfive  empire,  could  only  blend  his 
Grecian  idols  with  the  Periian— -for  dark, 
deplorably  dark,  was  every  corner  of  the 
habitable  earth,  except  the  inconfiderable 
land  of  Jukea,  where  only  a  few  defpifed, 
enfeebled  tribes,  poffeffed  the  light  of  fa- 
cred  knowledge. 

What  a  fpe&acle  for  the  Father  of  the 
univerfe !  who  produced  a  world  to  know 
him  and  be  happy !  how  much  muft  his 
divine  compaffion  be  excited,  on  contem 
plating  his  glorious  work  in  ruins! — to 
redeem  it  was  an  effort  worthy  of  himfelf- 

We  now  come  to  the  enlightened  ages 
of  Greece  and  Rome — a  period  when  I 
fancy  I  fee  the  human  foul  like  a  brilliant 


RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE.  305 

gem,  illuftrious  in  the  duft.  What  noble 
ftruggles  did  then  the  human  reafon  make 
to  free  itfelf  from  the  incumbent  load  of 
darknefs  and  error!  Then  lived  thofe  nu 
merous  worthies,  whofe  names  are  yet 
precious  to  pofterity.  What  greatnefs  of 
foul — what  a  tafte  for  folid  glory-— what 
elevated  fentiments  did  they  not  difco- 
ver  ?  Yet  thefe  men,  fo  far  fuperior  to  the 
reft  of  their  fpecies,  acknowledged  a  mul 
tiplicity  of  deities,  whofe  moral  charac 
ters  were  infinitely  inferior  to  their  own, 
and  to  whom  they  fcrupled  not  to  afcribe 
adions  which  themfelves  would  have  blufh- 
ed  to  acknowledge.  Every  paffion  of  the 
human  mind  was  perfonified,  and  deified  ; 
ftatues  graced  every  corner  of  their  flreets. 
Yet  were  there  not  wanting  fome  among 
them  who  made  bold  advances  in  fearch 
of  better  information— like  benighted  tra 
vellers,  they  followed  the  moil  diftant 
gleam  of  light,  yet  all  they  could  obtain  was, 
doubt  and  obfcurity. 

A  a 


300  RUDIMENTS  OF  TASTE. 

At  this  period,  when  reaibn  had  done 
all  it  could  do  to  regain  ite  native  ri^h:. 

;:r-v  lieges— the  Saviour  of  the  \vorld 
.  -  cared,  a:  whofe  facred  prefence  idola 
try  fled,  and  the  knowledge  of  the  one 
true  God  b-gan  to  enlighten  mankind. 
Tliey  were  no  longer  compelled  to  en- 
'here  is  God  our  maker?"  They 
.im,  and  were  inftruded  in  his  di 
vine  worQiip.  The  doctrines  which  the 
divine  Meffiah  taught,  eminently  tended  to 
reitore  human  nature  to  the  reftilude  and 
hapnin^fs  it  had  loft — they  were  calcula 
ted  to  harmonize  the  paffions,  regulate  the 
affections,  and  exalt  the  foul  to  a  fenfe  of 
her  own  dignity,  by  revealing  in  the  clear 
ed:  terms,  the  immortality  of  her  nature — 
a  Doint  which  phiiofophy  had  long  fought 
to  explore  through  the  dim  veil  of  pro 
bable  conjecture. 

A  ci-rfory  view  of  the  tenets  of  Chrifti- 
anity  is  fufficienl  to  evince,  that  they  are 
defigned  to  eilablifh  the  happinefs  of  man- 


RUDIMENTS   OF  TASTE.  307 

kind  even  in  the  prefent  life.  Confider 
the  benevolence  and  charity  th.  y  incul 
cate — the  patience,  me:  iob, 
contempt  of  worldly  n1  ;0y- 
ments,  the  generous  clemency  to  ene 
mies;  with  the  reft  of  that,  bright  affbm- 
bljge  of  virtues  they  enjoin,  and  you 
will  confefs  it  a  matter  of  v.  the 
felicity  of  Eden  is  not  already  ;I  to 
thofe  countries  where  the  reiigk 
is  profeffed — and  the  reafon  it  is  not  ib 
can  be  none  other,  than  that  of  the  thou- 
fands  who  daily  make  profeffion  of  it,  fo 
few  have  a  competent  knowledge  of  its  na 
ture  and  deiign.  Born  in  aChriftian  land, 
they  think  fuch  a  fcrutiny  fuperfluous. 
Thus  they  call  themfelves  Chriftians,  with 
out  having  any  thing  of  the  fpirit  of  Chrift. 
—And  thus  the  human  race  is  fiill  ob 
noxious  to  a  thoufand  miferies,  for  want 
of  applying  to  themfelves  the  remedy 
which  alone  could  put  an  end  to  moral 
evil. 


308  RUDIMENTS  OF   TASTE. 

May  you,  my  dear  girls,  be  effectually 
convinced  of  the  ineftimable  value  of  this 
divine  difpenfation,  and  think  with  Dr. 
Young,  that 

"  A  Chriflian  is  the  higheftftyle  of  man.}> 

There  are  no  virtuous  difpofitions-— 
no  generous  affections — no  truly  noble 
fentiments,  that  are  not  comprifed  in  that 
fublime  character.  Poffefs  it,  my  young 
friends,  for  no  higher  diftindtion,  or  grea 
ter  felicity,  can  poffibly  be  wifhed  you  by 

CORNELIA. 


